UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said he is ready to make tough decisions to bring about significant changes for the country, even as it faces economic challenges such as global conflicts and higher borrowing costs. In an interview with The Guardian, Burnham stressed the need for financial stability to support major reforms, acknowledging the "challenging" state of public finances before the upcoming budget. He also ruled out holding a snap general election before 2029, saying his focus is on solving problems rather than political strategy. Burnham mentioned that the recent death of his father, Roy, has strengthened his resolve to implement the kinds of changes his father long supported. Burnham introduced a new housing initiative called Your First Home, designed to help first-time buyers with a 2.5 percent deposit and a government-backed, interest-free equity loan covering 20 percent of the property’s value. The scheme will be funded by reorganizing existing government budgets. Details of the program will be presented by Chancellor John Healey during the Budget on 28 October. The initiative aims to assist those who cannot depend on family financial support and to encourage housing developers to build more homes. In addition to the housing plan, Labour has announced plans to reduce the welfare bill by guaranteeing a job for young people on health or disability benefits three months after they start claiming benefits, down from the current 18 months. The party also intends to expand its job guarantee program to cut the welfare bill further. Chancellor Healey is expected to introduce a new product called Flexible Finance under the UK Export Finance program to encourage foreign companies to buy more British goods and services. Burnham criticized previous governments for not addressing key issues such as social care, housing supply, and youth unemployment. He said long-term reform is necessary, as there are no "easy or quick wins." He emphasized the need for honesty and difficult but real decisions to improve the country. Burnham also commented on concerns about far-right protesters, condemning their actions but avoiding labeling them as outright racists. He expressed worries about the risks of artificial intelligence, especially after the Australian medicare system was targeted by rogue AI agents. Burnham acknowledged the need for a cap on domestic donations and was open to reviewing election spending limits, citing concerns about the influence of cryptocurrency in politics. He denied having discussions with his senior team about holding an early election and rejected claims that he lacks a mandate, noting that the public voted for the Labour party.