Andy Burnham promises to end Labour infighting as he becomes party’s leader

The brief

Andy Burnham pledged to lead a united Labour government free of infighting and factional politics as he took over as leader, despite anxiety on the left of party about the prospect of Shabana Mahmood as chancellor. Burnham, who will become prime minister on Monday, set out a distinctly leftwing vision for Britain. He promised to undo the Thatcherism of the 1980s, bring in more public ownership of utilities, find the money to fix social care and build a new generation of council homes. But he also insisted he would be “pro-business”, just as he was as mayor of Greater Manchester. Arguing that his election was the most significant change in…