New prime minister's first day: a plan to help people sleeping on the streets

Andy Burnham became prime minister on 20 July 2026 and immediately began work to end long-term rough sleeping — people living on the streets for long periods. He visited a London homeless charity, The Passage, then spoke outside Downing Street. The government said it will first help street sleepers find stable homes. England's official street count is a record 4,793.