UK's new PM says Brexit has done 'more harm than good'

Andy Burnham said Brexit "had done more harm than good" and promised to keep the United Kingdom together in his biggest speech since taking over as the country's prime minister.

Burnham, who replaced Sir Keir Starmer as PM in July, made the comments during a fiery and at times emotional address at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool on Tuesday, local time.

In a stark contrast to his predecessor, Burnham's hour-long oration focused largely on domestic issues and left-wing policies.

Here are the main takeaways from his address.

Brexit changes flagged

Burnham promised to use a summit between the UK and European Union later this year to table several options about what the relationship could be in the future.

It's been just over a decade since Brits voted to leave the EU, and on Tuesday, Burnham stopped short of saying his country should rejoin the bloc, however,  he did not rule it out either, and was deeply critical of Brexit.

"I cannot say to you truthfully that where we are is good enough. Brexit has done more harm than good," the PM said, adding the EU was his country's largest trading partner.

Burnham did not speculate on what his options might include.

United, not divided, kingdom

The PM became emotional when he spoke about the prospect of some of the UK nations seeking independence, adding that his own opposition to the idea had been shaped by the influence of his father, who died earlier this month.

Burnham's speech came a little over two weeks after the first ministers of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland signed a memorandum demanding their countries be allowed a path to independence and reunification with the Republic of Ireland respectively.

"I'm going to use this job to build the kind of Britain my dad wanted to see and fight with everything I've got to keep it together," the PM said, as his voice cracked.

Foreign issues not PM's focus

Apart from speaking about closer ties with the European Union, Burnham didn't devote much time to foreign policy — less than a minute, in fact.

He spoke about a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine, said he would be "steadfast" in his support for Ukraine and "stand up to threats wherever they come from, whether Russia, Iran or anywhere".

Burnham did not mention AUKUS in his address.

UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband later told the ABC people should not read anything into his boss's brevity.

"I would say to our Australian and international audiences that the values that Andy talked about today in his speech are the values that we will apply in our foreign policy," he said.

Global AI regulation

Burnham said the UK would use its presidency of the G20 in 2027 to "develop a new global code" to regulate AI.

The rise of AI, and some sectors' reliance on it, has been in the international spotlight this year. 

On Tuesday, Britain's PM said on AI, he wanted to "capture its benefits, whilst being clear-eyed about its risks".

Signature policy: National Care Service

The PM's signature policy announcement during the speech was the creation of a National Care Service that would help vulnerable people inside their homes and, in turn, ease pressure on the National Health Service (the UK's equivalent of Australia's Medicare).

He described it as "a landmark policy as significant as the creation of the NHS itself".

"I won't pretend some of this won't be difficult," Burnham told the crowd, adding his proposal would go before voters at the next general election in 2029. "I accept I may pay a political price."

One of his more controversial policy announcements was an adjustment to the state pension entitlement, which prompted audible tut tuts from some of the elderly people in the audience.

Cost-of-living relief

The PM re-announced multiple policies designed to bring down the UK's soaring cost of living.

These included bus fares being capped at £2 ($3.80), some tax being taken off electricity bills, and plans to renationalise essential public services.

He also spoke at length about housing, including the need to help rough sleepers, a new plan to allow first homebuyers 2.5 per cent deposits in some circumstances, and changes to the country's antiquated "leasehold" system, which means many home owners actually lease their land from aristocrats.