Burnham vows to ensure ‘resilience’ after ‘tough’ summer for emergency services

Andy Burnham has pledged to boost Britain’s resilience as he paid tribute to frontline workers after a summer of high temperatures, wildfires and emergencies at sea.

The Prime Minister told volunteers they would never be “invisible” to him during a reception in the garden of 10 Downing Street, after a “tough” summer. He pledged to learn the lessons of a summer when record temperatures sparked wildfires across the country and caused the deaths of an estimated 2,977 people in May and June alone. Mr Burnham said: “The climate is changing. I don’t think anybody here today is going to say otherwise. “The change in the world is going to test everybody, and it’s my responsibility to equip you all.” Addressing representatives of fire and rescue services, St John Ambulance, the RNLI and other emergency services, the Prime Minister said: “My commitment to you is not to let what we lived through just go past. “I will make sure that we build resilience up from the ground level.” He added: “I will commit to you today as Prime Minister to support our community and voluntary sector across the country. “From my former role, I can say to you all: you are not invisible to me. I see what you do and I appreciate what you do. “But also, our emergency services – fire, ambulance, police – my job is to ensure that we continue to do everything we can to equip you to deal with a changing world, and we will.”

Published: 21/09/2026 by Radio NewsHub