LONDON, June 29 (Xinhua) -- Britain's Labour Member of Parliament (MP) Andy Burnham on Monday pledged to launch the biggest council house building program since the post-war period.

Labour party's Andy Burnham delivers a speech at the People's History Museum in Manchester, England, Monday, June 29, 2026. (Photo: AP)

He noted in a speech that Britain's housing crisis is having a ruinous impact on its public finances, and said measures will be taken to use vacant public land to reduce costs.

He also promised to reform business rates to better support high street businesses and reduce the welfare bill in a way which is fair and lasting and helps people move forward.

Burnham won the Makerfield parliamentary by-election on June 19 and was sworn in later as a Labour MP. He is widely regarded as the frontrunner to succeed outgoing British Prime Minister Keir Starmer as Labour leader and prime minister.