Loudspeakers are to be banned from the vicinity around Downing Street on Monday as Andy Burnham prepares for his first day as Prime Minister, the Met Police announced.
The loudspeaker ban follows a series of intrusions in recent years by activists such as pro-EU campaigner Steve Bray, who blared loud music during the resignation speeches of PMs Boris Johnson and Sir Keir Starmer, as well as Rishi Sunak’s announcement of a general election in 2024.
The Met Police posted on X: “Conditions are in place on Whitehall tomorrow (Monday, 20 July). Anyone assembling near the Downing Street gates to observe events linked to the new Prime Minister must not use any amplified noise equipment and must stay within the shaded area. These conditions are in place between 10:30 – 13:30.”
Despite the ruling, Bray himself took to X to insist he had no plans to disrupt Burnham’s first day in office.
He wrote: “To be 100% clear I will not be playing or using amplifiers anywhere near downing Street tomorrow including the black hole areas not covered in the police map! Andy has always had and still has my full support!”
Conditions are in place on Whitehall tomorrow (Monday, 20 July).
— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) July 19, 2026
Anyone assembling near the Downing Street gates to observe events linked to the new Prime Minister must not use any amplified noise equipment and must stay within the shaded area. These conditions are in place… pic.twitter.com/8R4Jl02IIO
News of the ban prompted strong reactions from journalists on social media.
The Times' political editor Steven Swinford wrote on X: "Huge political moments including Starmer's announcement that he was quitting and Rishi Sunak's election call have been disrupted by noise from protestors
"PMs have said that it is so loud it is hard to think and deliver speeches at what are major national moments.
"The only question is why it has taken this long to implement the ban."
Broadcaster Julia Hartley-Brewer added: “Finally some sensible policing outside Downing Street to stop a few protesters like Steve Bray disrupting national occasions. But why on earth couldn't the Met have done this years ago?????”
But not everyone approved of the move. One X user posted: “Overreach by the police. I don’t like the noise that cranks make during Downing Street announcements. But we are meant to live in a free society, so I have to accept them. This reeks of police state.”
Burnham will reportedly promise to restore confidence in government and give people “breathing room” when he becomes prime minister on Monday.
The new Labour leader will set out his domestic priorities in his first speech from Downing Street after visiting the Palace to “kiss hands” with the King and formally take over from Sir Keir Starmer.
He is expected to characterise the moment as one of “reflection and resolution”, arguing Britain must be honest about the challenges it faces and demonstrate it can solve them.
And he will say he is “acutely conscious” that the UK has had seven prime ministers over the last 10 years, and stress the need for more stable and responsible politics.
Allies of Mr Burnham said he would argue that political stability must deliver “tangible” improvements along with the “breathing room” on the cost of living he has previously promised.
Having come to the Labour leadership without a contest barely a month after returning to Westminster, Mr Burnham is yet to set out much of his agenda for his premiership.
He has already said he wants to devolve power away from Westminster as one of his key priorities, driving that agenda with a new “No 10 North” in Manchester, which he is expected to visit later in the week.
Promising a “reset of priorities”, Mr Burnham has also announced he will scrap Sir Keir’s flagship digital ID programme in order to focus money and attention on the cost of living. In his first week in office, the new prime minister is expected to unveil policies aimed at making people’s lives easier.
Reports have suggested this could include action on energy bills, including allowing more oil and gas drilling in the North Sea.
Environmental campaigners have urged him to stick to Labour’s 2024 manifesto, which promised not to issue new licences for North Sea drilling, arguing they would not reduce energy bills.
Mr Burnham could also face a decision on whether to temporarily nationalise Thames Water as the firm struggles with a £20 billion debt pile.
He has already expressed support for greater public control of essential services, and Thames Water’s main creditors have said they are willing to discuss the issue with his new ministers in an effort to agree a rescue deal and avoid the business falling into a so-called “special administration regime”.
