Summary

  • Andy Burnham fielding questions on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg - watch live above

  • It comes ahead of his first Labour Party conference as prime minister in Liverpool

  • Burnham is set to introduce a new scheme to help first-time buyers onto the housing ladder

  • Earlier this week the PM attended the UN General Assembly, insisted he is not tempted to call an early general election and said his government would do "what we can" ahead of next month's Budget

  • How long can Labour's feel-good factor last? However much Burnham loves being PM there are also less tempting realities he'll have to confront, writes Laura Kuenssberg

  • Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp, former business secretary Peter Kyle and BBC director-general Matt Brittin will also appear on the show

Live Reporting

Edited by Craig Hoyle and Matt Spivey

  1. And we're off...

    Queue the music... Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg has just started.

    As a reminder, you can watch live at the top of the page. We'll also bring you the key lines here.

  2. Andy Burnham about to face questions from Laura Kuenssberg - watch live

    Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg is just about to get started.

    Prime Minister Andy Burnham is in the hot seat this morning, live from Liverpool as the Labour Party conference kicks off - his first as party leader.

    Ahead of the conference, the PM has announced a new scheme to help first-time buyers get on the housing ladder.

    The government also plans to make it simpler for councils to take over empty homes to provide housing for those in need.

    We'll also have shadow home secretary Chris Philp on the programme, as well as former business secretary Peter Kyle and the BBC's new director-general, Matt Brittin.

    You'll be able to watch live at the top of the page once the programme starts. You can also follow along on iPlayer or BBC One.

  3. Burnham heads to Liverpool fresh from visit to United Nations

    Ahead of Burnham's trip to the north-west of England for the Labour Party conference - his first as leader - the prime minister experienced another first earlier this week.

    Here's a quick look at his visit to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York:

    Andy Burnham stands behind a lectern delivering a speech at the UN General Assembly. Two microphones are attached and he stands behind a small perspex screen.Getty Images

    In his UNGA speech, Burnham said the UK would create a new data centre to "stem the poisonous tide" of disinformation, including from Russia, and work to establish global safety standards for artificial intelligence

    Andy Burnham and Donald Trump laughing. Each man sits on a black leather chair positioned either side of a small table. Union Jack and US flags hang behind them and there is a blue backdrop reading United Nations General Assembly. Trump is turning to face Burnham.PA Media

    In remarks to media following their meeting, US President Donald Trump said he can do business with Burnham. He then said he thought a deal to hand sovereignty of the Chagos Islands from Britain to Mauritius was "terrible"

    Andy Burnham and Pedro Sanchez walking in Central Park. Both men wear suit jackets and shirts without ties. Sanchez is looking at Burnham, who has one hand raised in front of his chest as he speaks.Getty Images

    Before attending the General Assembly, Burnham met Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez for an early-morning walk around New York's Central Park

    Volodymyr Zelensky stands next to Andy Burnham at the United Nations General Assembly, Zelensky has one had raised as he speaks.Getty Images

    Burnham also met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, where he reiterated the UK's full support for Kyiv in defending itself from Russia's invasion

  4. Here's what else has been happening in politics this week

    Dozens of people wearing life vests are shown crammed onto a small dinghy in the water.Reuters

    A group of migrants board an inflatable dinghy before leaving the coast of northern France in an attempt to reach Britain, earlier this month

    Small boat crossings: Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood ordered a review into how two boats reached the UK without being intercepted.

    Elgin Marbles: The Greek PM, writing in the Guardian, reminded Burnham that in 2023, when he was mayor of Manchester, he had said the Parthenon sculptures should be returned to Greece with "no strings attached".

    Tories push benefit restrictions: Kemi Badenoch said her party would prevent long-term jobless benefit claimants from spending welfare payments on alcohol, cigarettes and gambling, and cut universal credit by 30% for those unemployed for more than six months if they have not previously paid enough into the system, despite being able to work.

    Lib Dems promise tax cuts: Speaking at his party's conference in Brighton, Ed Davey said his party would reduce the income tax paid by millions of workers.

    UK to help Saudis counter Houthi attacks: Britain will deploy a military aircraft to help refuel Saudi Arabian fighter jets in the country's conflict with Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen.

  5. By-election, Budget and G20: What's coming up for Burnham?

    South Miami beach. Several sky scrapers separate the beach from a riverGetty Images

    This year's G20 summit begins in Miami on 20 December

    Andy Burnham has attended his first UN General Assembly meeting, met Donald Trump for the first time and is about to face his first Labour Party conference as PM.

    Other significant tests for his government also loom on the horizon:

    • John Healey will deliver his first Budget as chancellor on 28 October, with the government facing pressure from the UK's unexpected borrowing surge
    • The Holborn and St Pancras by-election on 8 October will determine who will succeed former PM Keir Starmer as MP
    • Burnham will travel to Miami for the G20 meeting, which begins on 20 December - next year, he'll host the same summit in Manchester

  6. More channels and radio stations may have to close, BBC director general says

    'We can't guarantee any programme or channel forever' - Matt Brittin

    The BBC's director general, Matt Brittin, told Laura Kuenssberg in an interview earlier this week that changing audience habits "may well mean" some channels and radio stations have to close in order for resources to be invested in on-demand services.

    While his focus is to "minimise the impact on the audience", he says "the tight financial situation means that we're having to look at some of those decisions a bit sooner than we might like".

    In recent months, the BBC has announced a series of closures including Blankety Blank, Celebrity Mastermind, Live at the Apollo and Football Focus, with further cuts expected.

    Brittin took over as BBC director general in May after a decade as president of Google in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

    You can read Laura's earlier story on her interview with Matt Brittin, and we'll be hearing more from him in the programme a little later on.

  7. Burnham announces scheme to help first-time buyers onto housing ladder

    Joe Pike, Richard Wheeler and Claire Keenan
    BBC Politics

    New-build homes in Ripley, Derbyshire are shown from above.Getty Images

    Prime Minister Andy Burnham is to introduce a new scheme to try to help people "who have given up hope of ever having a home to call their own" get on the property ladder.

    The "Your First Home" scheme would be open to first-time buyers in England with a deposit of 2.5%. It would provide them with a loan worth 20% of their new build property's value to help pay for the purchase.

    Burnham said: "Too many young people are struggling with the cost of housing, with many giving up hope of ever having a home to call their own.

    "So we will step in to help more first-time buyers on to the housing ladder."

    On Sunday, the government also shared plans it said would make it simpler for councils to take over empty homes to provide housing for those in need.

    The announcements come as the prime minister prepares for his first Labour conference as leader.

  8. Here's who else is on today's show

    Chris Philp is pictured wearing a suit and tie, with a slight smile on his face. as he looks off camera.PA Media

    Shadow home secretary Chris Philp

    Prime Minister Andy Burnham gets top billing on this morning's programme, but who else are we going to hear from?

    Shadow home secretary Chris Philp will be fielding questions in the hot seat later this morning.

    We'll also be hearing more from Kuenssberg's separate sit-downs with BBC director-general Matt Brittin and former business secretary Peter Kyle - we'll bring you more on these interviews shortly.

    On this morning's panel:

    • Gloria De Piero - Former Labour MP and now GB News presenter
    • Steve Rotheram - Mayor of the Liverpool City Region and longstanding friend of Burnham
    • Darren Jones - Starmer ally and former chief secretary to the prime minister
    Gloria de Piero, Steve Rotherham and Darren Jones are pictured in a composite image.PA/Reuters

    From left to right: Gloria De Piero, Steve Rotheram and Darren Jones

  9. Analysis

    How long can Labour's feel-good factor last?

    Laura Kuenssberg
    Presenter, Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg

    Andy Burnham mug which has his face and the word 'hope' in red written on itGetty Images

    Andy Burnham might not yet have delivered his all-important conference speech, but he has been preparing for this moment for years.

    He'll lap up the inevitable whoops and cheers – not just as Labour's leader, but the kind of leader who chimes with the party's rank and file, who puts social justice at the top of his list, who is not averse to cranking up the greatest hits – whether taking a pop at Mrs Thatcher, privatisation, or the divides between north and south.

    Speaking to MPs, ministers and advisers inside the party, there is no doubt whatsoever that Labour is in a much, much happier place than this time last year.

    But however much Burnham loves being PM there are also less tempting realities he'll have to confront.

    One senior figure warns that what's coming could turn things sour. "The Budget looks like a disaster – by Halloween we'll be looking at something else," predicting a big change in mood.

    That portent of doom doesn't match the overall atmosphere around Labour right now, but there is a quiet creeping concern about whether Burnham's rhetoric of hope, and change, the classic political mantras, can be matched with people's experience.

  10. Burnham 'knocks dead' speculation of early election

    Richard Wheeler and Kate Whannel
    Political reporters

    Burnham: 'No election anytime soon'

    Andy Burnham says he isn't tempted to call an early general election, arguing it would throw "the country into a backward-looking process".

    The prime minister said on Friday his focus was on supporting businesses and helping people with the cost of living.

    Recent polling suggests Labour's position has improved since Burnham replaced Keir Starmer in July, although Reform UK and the Conservatives are not far behind.

    An early general election could give Burnham a mandate of his own and free him from commitments made in Labour's 2024 manifesto. The next general election must be held by August 2029.

    Asked by ITV Calendar if the next election would be in 2029, Burnham replied: "All of this speculation on an early election, I can knock that dead."

  11. Burnham in hot seat ahead of first Labour conference

    Adam Goldsmith
    Live reporter

    Andy Burnham arrives after a visit to the new ferry ahead of the annual Labour Party conference in Liverpool. He is dressed in black, and has his arm outstretched to shake hands with a woman greeting him.Getty Images

    Andy Burnham in Liverpool on Saturday ahead of Labour's party conference

    Prime Minister Andy Burnham will field questions from Laura Kuenssberg this morning ahead of his first party conference in the top role.

    The prime minister will be speaking from Liverpool, where the conference is set to get under way.

    Burnham has said his debut leader's conference speech on Tuesday will leave nobody in any doubt about "what I'm trying to do in this role".

    He has also insisted he is not tempted to call an early general election, arguing it would throw "the country into a backward-looking process".

    This week, the PM met US President Donald Trump, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and other world leaders at the UN General Assembly in New York.

    Also joining the programme this morning are shadow home secretary Chris Philp, former business secretary Peter Kyle and BBC director-general Matt Brittin.

    You can watch Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg live from 09:00 BST.