# Put AI centre stage in the G20 presidency

> “When Britain takes the Presidency of the G20 next year, I will show our new-found confidence as a country, and I will show it to the world by putting AI centre stage and Britain will then work to develop a new global code to capture its benefits whilst being clear-eyed about its risks.”
>
> — Andy Burnham, Prime Minister, Labour Party; Leader's speech, Labour Party Conference 2026, 29 September 2026

- **Status:** Promised
- **Status ladder:** Promised → In plan → Legislated → Funded → Delivering → Delivered
- **Policy area:** [Running government](https://ledgergov.uk/promises/area/running-government)
- **Speaker:** [Andy Burnham](https://ledgergov.uk/actor/andy-burnham), Prime Minister
- **Party:** [Labour Party](https://ledgergov.uk/actor/labour)
- **Made on:** 29 September 2026
- **Where:** Leader's speech, Labour Party Conference 2026
- **Deadline:** 30 November 2027
- **Cost a year:** No costing published
- **Who it affects:** G20 governments, through a shared global code on the benefits and risks of AI, and the people those rules would protect
- **When:** During the UK's G20 Presidency, from December 2026, up to the Leaders' Summit in Manchester in November 2027
- **Paid for by:** Not stated when it was announced
- **Quote source:** https://labour.org.uk/updates/stories/andy-burnhams-speech-to-labour-party-conference-2026/ (checked word for word at its source on 20 October 2026; Quoted for reporting; rights stay with the publisher)
- **Last updated:** 20 October 2026
- **Card:** https://ledgergov.uk/promise/uk-g20-ai-centre-stage-2027

## Where it stands

The Prime Minister first said it at the UN General Assembly on 22 September 2026, where he also said the UK will work towards agreeing a single set of global principles and standards for AI. No 10 said the same day that the UK takes over the G20 Presidency from the US in December 2026 and that the Leaders' Summit will be held in Manchester the following November, so the deadline is recorded as 30 November 2027. Neither speech says what the global code would contain or who would sign it. The card moves when the UK's presidency publishes its priorities, and again when a code is agreed.

## Timeline

- 29 September 2026, Promised: The Prime Minister tells Labour's conference he will put AI centre stage during the UK's G20 Presidency and that Britain will work to develop a new global code on AI
- 30 November 2027, Deadline (to come): G20 Leaders' Summit in Manchester (editorial date, end of November 2027)

## About the cost

No cost has been published.

## Sources

- [Labour Party: Andy Burnham's speech to Labour Party Conference 2026 (29 Sep 2026)](https://labour.org.uk/updates/stories/andy-burnhams-speech-to-labour-party-conference-2026/)
- [Prime Minister's Office: PM speech at UNGA, 22 September 2026](https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-speech-at-unga-22-september-2026)
- [Prime Minister's Office, 22 Sep 2026: Prime Minister drives global work on artificial intelligence at UNGA](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prime-minister-drives-global-work-on-artificial-intelligence-at-unga-as-uk-and-us-make-history-with-firing-from-undersea-drone)

## Checks

- Checked automatically by AI Journalist, not yet verified by an editor.
- Checked by AI Journalist (automated) on 20 October 2026.

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