Andy's New Order: Burnham dad dances to 80s Manchester band as he plans to hand income tax powers to Labour mayors

By ELIZABETH HAIGH, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER Published: 09:00, 18 July 2026 | Updated: 09:15, 18 July 2026 Andy Burnham was spotted dad-dancing along to an 80s Manchester band as he prepared to become Prime Minister on Friday, amid plans to hand income tax powers to Labour mayors. The MP for Makerfield was filmed dancing and clapping along to True Faith by New Order, which - perhaps purposefully - contains the line 'I used to think that the day would never come'. And as the veteran - and loser - of two previous Labour leadership contests, the words could not be more aptly put. The new Labour leader will become prime minister on Monday but will begin the process of moving into Downing Street over the weekend. His first few days are set to be busy, not least because the Treasury is set to hand over plans for income tax 'sharing', it is understood. The department is said to be drawing up plans to give English mayors a share of income tax revenue from their area, designed to encourage local authorities to pursue higher growth. Current Chancellor Rachel Reeves already drew up plans earlier this year to 'give regional leaders control of a share of some national taxes' - a departure from the usual policy, which sees the Treasury hold all income tax. Under the new policy to be presented to Burnham, the seven most senior regional mayoralties would all see the change. The MP for Makerfield was filmed dancing and clapping along to True Faith by New Order It came after Andy Burnham gave his first speech as Labour leader on Friday It would apply to mayors in London, the West Midlands, Liverpool, the North East, South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire, as well as Greater Manchester, a seat that is currently vacant due to Burnham's return to the Commons. The policy is said to have been accelerated since Burnham's election, and he has repeatedly called for more 'fiscal devolution' to give mayors powers to raise taxes through measures such as tourist levies and local transport control. Around 75 per cent of England's population live under a mayoralty.  On Friday, after being confirmed as the new Labour leader, Burnham pledged to 'take power back from Westminster and Whitehall and give it to the place where you live'. After footage emerged of Burnham's moves, the public was quick to give their opinions on his dance skills, with some drawing parallels to Theresa May's infamous awkward moves. Some labelled the moves as 'cringe' while others joked how politicians dancing immediately made them dislike the song.  Elsewhere, Burnham is still 'finalising' his cabinet after feverish speculation in Westminster over his choice of chancellor, with allies on Labour's left favouring Ed Miliband but reports suggesting Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood will get the crucial role. Burnham said there had been 'too much' speculation and he would announce his ministerial team on Monday. Burnham danced and then clapped along to the Manchester band's hit 'I am finalising those decisions, and I will come to conclusions very shortly, and then I will announce those on Monday,' he said. In his first speech as Labour leader he said the party was facing its 'last chance to change' but he promised to 'bring back hope'. He will become prime minister after Sir Keir Starmer visits Buckingham Palace to offer his resignation to the King on Monday. Burnham will then see the King to 'kiss hands' and be invited to take over as prime minister before getting the chance to set out his vision to the country from Downing Street. He is expected to use the speech to set out plans to give people 'breathing space' on the cost of living and highlight his core theme of devolving power from Whitehall to regions across the UK. That devolution process will be driven from Burnham's 'No 10 North' in Manchester, which he is expected to visit during his first week in power. Allies said Burnham will set out policies aimed at making people's lives easier with a promise of delivering tangible change as soon as possible. He has already begun to receive national security briefings ahead of his formal appointment and has talked to officials about his priorities in office and the first events he will go to as prime minister.