00:00A new Prime Minister and a new chapter for the country, but what does that change actually mean for people
00:06in the North East?
00:07Andy Burnham's move from regional politics into Downing Street has prompted questions about representation, priorities,
00:14and whether voters feel better understood by a leader with roots away from London.
00:18I would hope that they would bring more, they would focus some attention on maybe issues, social things, issues and
00:30things going on in the North East that maybe the Prime Minister who was, you know, more based on South
00:37maybe wouldn't really be aware of or take much notice of.
00:40Well, it's nice to hear an accent from closer to here than down there. That's always a plus in my
00:47book, you know.
00:48I met the man, he's not as left-wing as people say. I met him in 2014 after I'd lost
00:54my late first husband.
00:56He will never bring back home health, which is very, very sad, which we could do with.
01:01I admire the fact that he's trying to sort out social care, should never have been decimated.
01:06I'm so care for my husband who's visually impaired, who's got a lot of things like parkingism, spas.
01:15Andy Burnham became Prime Minister after a political career that included senior roles in national government and a period as
01:21Mayor of Greater Manchester.
01:23His appointment and the creation of Number 10 North has renewed debate about where political power is held in the
01:29UK and whether having leaders from different parts of the country can actually change the relationship between Westminster and the
01:36regions.
01:37For people in the North East, questions remain about what practical differences a new government could bring from investments in
01:44public services to jobs and transport.
01:47Our conversations in the area focus on those issues and whether people believe a Prime Minister with regional connections can
01:55deliver the change that they want to see.
01:57I don't think it's a North East specific issue, but like it is certainly a big issue that we have
02:03here.
02:03And I hope that like more money is going to go towards like social care, mental health intervention, stuff like
02:10that.
02:10I think Keir Starmer should have been given more of a chance and Keir Starmer should not have caved in.
02:17But Andy Burnham hopefully can turn things around.
02:21And if he wants serious about building council homes, yes, I'm all for it because people do need council homes.
02:30But what she should have done, Irene, give that money back or give it to charity and what she should
02:36do as well, build council homes, because you never know when you're going to become a carer.
02:42For the people that we spoke to in Newcastle, the key question is whether a change at the top of
02:46government will lead to changes that they can see locally.
02:50Andy Burnham's early time as Prime Minister will be closely watched as attention turns from his background and political journey
02:57to the decisions his government makes next.
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