00:00A new man at the helm, Andy Burnham has officially taken over as the UK's 59th Prime Minister.
00:06With the change of leadership comes a host of new policies, cutting VAT on energy bills,
00:11reducing business rates for pubs, clubs and live music venues, and capping bus ticket prices.
00:16The new £2 price gap on bus tickets has been met with largely positive views in Chatham.
00:21If you go into Stroud and you come back for £6, you might as well get a train for that.
00:30I think because of the cost of living so much, I think it will help people, it will be easier
00:36for the people who are working,
00:39you know, and especially the young generation, because young generation are our future, you know.
00:44Well, £1 per se is not going to save, you know, it's not going to have a massive impact in
00:51people's quality of life.
00:54But it is through policies like this that public services are perceived to be affordable by all.
01:02In Rochester, opinions on the new policies and the new PM were decidedly mixed.
01:07Well, in a way, I don't think it's right, because basically, no, I haven't voted for him,
01:12and I can't see anyone else, or many of the public have voted for him at all.
01:15As far as I'm concerned, if the Prime Minister's been ousted, then there should be a re-election.
01:21I can't see how that man can be Prime Minister.
01:24Paul Dixon runs the Wolfencastle Micropub in Rochester.
01:28I think it's a definite step in the right direction.
01:30It's a lifeline for, you know, a struggling industry.
01:33It's really tough for the pub trade at the moment.
01:36Overheads, you know, have shot up through the roof.
01:38You know, costs are really difficult to manage.
01:40It's, yeah, it'll definitely be a help.
01:42I think it's very early days. I think it's difficult to call at the moment.
01:46But, yeah, I mean, certainly the early indicators are that, you know, that he cares about businesses
01:51that are finding it tough, people that are finding it tough, you know, cost-of-living crisis.
01:55Like, yeah, it definitely looks as though he's, yeah, he's got that in mind.
01:58He's moving in the right direction.
02:00However, with his number 10 for the North Department plans,
02:03will the King of the North leave the South East undefended?
02:07Under Burnham, no Kent MPs hold a position in the Cabinet,
02:11and on his recent visit to Gravesend, his first since assuming the Labour leadership,
02:15Burnham refused to speak with the local press.
02:18The number 10 North plan will see a northern branch of Downing Street,
02:21reportedly already up and running, overseen by Louise Hay, First Secretary of State.
02:27According to Burnham, the time for resisting devolution is over.
02:30Tim Forster for KMTV.
02:32The public's
02:32The public's
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