Five questions for Prime Minister Burnham
A new Prime Minister inherits policies that weigh heavily on British Somali families. They are owed clear answers, whoever sits in Downing Street.
Andy Burnham became Prime Minister on 20 July, three days after winning the Labour leadership. Sir Keir Starmer had announced his resignation on 22 June.
BSPAC takes no side in party politics. But every new government deserves a clear list of the questions that matter most to the people it serves. Here are five from a British Somali perspective.
1. Will the effects of 30-month refugee leave be published?
Since 2 March 2026, people recognised as refugees receive 30 months of leave, followed by a review, rather than five years. Short leave makes it harder to sign a tenancy, secure a job or plan a child's schooling. The government should publish evidence on what the change is doing to employment, housing and mental health.
2. Is there a date to review the family reunion suspension?
The refugee family reunion route has been suspended since September 2025. This month the High Court dismissed a challenge brought by the charity Safe Passage. A policy can be lawful and still need review. Families separated by war deserve a date and a transparent set of criteria.
3. How will the new definition of anti-Muslim hostility be used?
The definition adopted in March 2026 recognises that people can be targeted because they are perceived to be Muslim, including because of their ethnicity or appearance. That matters to British Somalis, who often face prejudice on several grounds at once. Ministers should explain how the definition will guide policing, schools and public bodies.
4. What will change online?
In June, rioting in Northern Ireland followed a suspect being wrongly described as Somali. Ofcom then warned online platforms that some of the disorder "appears to have been incited online". Communities need to know how the government and the regulator will deal with content that targets named nationalities.
5. Will Somalis finally be counted?
Most official statistics record broad categories such as "Black African". As a result, Somali outcomes in education, employment, health and hate crime are largely invisible. Where sample sizes allow, departments should publish them. You cannot fix what you do not measure.
None of these questions is partisan. They would be the same for any government. BSPAC will report the answers, and the silences.
Sources
NPR, 19 July 2026; Al Jazeera, 20 July 2026; Home Office and House of Commons Library briefings; Free Movement, 13 July 2026; Ofcom open letter, 10 June 2026.
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