‘I’m excited’ - South Shields MP looks ahead to Andy Burnham becoming Prime Minister
South Shields’ MP has expressed her excitement ahead of Andy Burnham becoming Prime Minister.
The Member of Parliament for South Shields has gave Andy Burnham her backing ahead of him becoming the country’s Prime Minister today (Monday, July 20).
Emma Lewell has spoken of her ‘excitement’ at the Labour Party’s new leader and ‘hopes’ that he will deliver for the country.
Andy Burnham will become Prime Minister later today after he won the party’s leadership election earlier this month.
Both South Tyneside MPs backed Andy to be the next leader, and therefore Prime Minister, during the leadership race, which came after Sir Keir Starmer announced his resignation outside of 10 Downing Street on June 22.
Both Ms Lewell and Kate Osborne, MP for Jarrow and Gateshead East, had been vocal in their dissatisfaction at Starmer’s leadership, most notably following Labour’s heavy loses in the May 2026 local elections.
Speaking to the Shields Gazette ahead of Andy Burnham becoming the PM, the South Shields MP has backed his early proposals ahead of assuming office.
Ms Lewell said: “I go way back with Andy as I was his PPS (Parliamentary Private Secretary) briefly when he was last in Parliament.
“I know he has a really strong sense of social justice and I really strong moral compass so I’m excited to see what he is going to propose.
“We’ve heard bits of it already, with things that I’m massively in favour of like the nationalisation of water and better social care.
“People are fed up of the churn in politics and hearing empty promises from governments what then don’t deliver.
“I’m hoping that Andy will deliver and I’m going to make sure that he does.”