The key issues facing Andy Burnham when parliament returns next week

Andy Burnham will return to parliament on Tuesday, no doubt buoyed by an overwhelming public support for the Labour Party since he took office.

Both his personal ratings and the government’s have shot up since his coronation as prime minister in July, with the party overtaking Reform for the first time since April 2025.

But the start of the new parliamentary term could also spell the end of this honeymoon period, as the new premier is forced to face the many challenges before him.

A key moment will be his first Prime Minister’s Questions, standing opposite Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch on Wednesday 2 September.

And beyond the Westminster drama, there are several political issues the prime minister needs to tackle during his first full term in No 10. Here’s what to expect:

John Healey will give his first Budget as chancellor on 28 October, setting out the government ’s spending priorities and giving the clearest indication yet of Mr Burnham’s fiscal approach.

It will undoubtedly be a tight balancing act, with the chancellor promising to stick to the fiscal rules set by his predecessor Rachel Reeves. This means that the government’s day-to-day budget must be matched by tax receipts – ruling out massive borrowing.

The Burnham government has also committed to stick to Labour’s manifesto pledge not to raise income tax, national insurance, or VAT.

But serious funds will be required to deliver the prime minister ’s ambitious plans for government, which include an overhaul of the social care system and a pledge to end homelessness.

Several Labour MPs have called for Mr Healey to increase taxes on wealth, capital gains or corporations to boost government coffers.

This was an approach shied away from by Sir Keir Starmer, who was wary of a negative response from business leaders and the markets. But the new prime minister has indicated in the past that he does not share the same apprehension.

Mr Burnham faces one of the biggest tests of his premiership in the autumn when two official reviews are set to present their recommendations.

These are the reports into the Personal Independence Payment (Pip) by disability minister Sir Stephen Timms, and how to tackle youth unemployment by former health minister Alan Milburn.

Interim findings already presented by both suggest they will recommend sweeping changes to Britain’s welfare system.