5 key takeways from Andy Burnham’s first big leadership speech
Burnham confirmed that he will create a 'No 10' in Manchester and give regions powers to reform utilities, transport and housing
Andy Burnham has set out some of what he plans to achieve as prime minister in his first major speech in his bid to become the next prime minister of the UK. Burnham, who was elected as the MP for Makerfield on 18 June, is the only declared candidate to take over from Keir Starmer, and could be crowned as prime minister within a few weeks.
Here is a recap of the key announcements he made in his speech at the People’s History Museum in Manchester today.
1. Changing the culture in Whitehall
Burnham started by talking about how he was “worried” by what he found in Parliament when he returned last week. Burnham said it’s a “more fragmented and disjointed place than the one I left” and that it is also “frankly unhappier”. He said he will work hard to change that culture and bring a greater sense of unity in Parliament.
He said he will let MPs be ‘authentic representatives’, and “not use the whipping system to create fear or close down debate”
2. No 10 in the North
Perhaps one of the most significant ideas Burnham confirmed today was his plan to carry out some of the government’s operations in the North of England. He said that No 10 North will be a “nerve centre of a rewired Britain” and its job will be to make power flow (via devolution) to different regions across the UK.
He said that the operation’s mission will be to strive for equivalent living conditions in all parts of Britain.
3. Reform of utilities, reindustrialisation and regeneration
He said No 10 North will be tasked with supporting regions with these three key tasks. Burnham said No 10 North will enable regions to take greater public control of water, housing, energy and transport, based on the model the former Manchester mayor used to bring buses in Manchester into public ownership.
On reindustrialisation, he said his government will consolidate public and private investment at a place-based level, and help all areas establish “good growth funds”, pots of funding for housing and infrastructure projects.
4. Reducing the welfare bill
Burnham then moved on to speaking about how he would cut the welfare bill in a way that is “fair and lasting”.
As part of this, he spoke about the life chances of young people and the need for a rethink in education. “The days of a school system configured entirely around the university route will be brought to an end,” he said.
He asked “when will we focus on life chances” of kids who “want something different”.
Burnham says they will be “giving every young person a clear path into a reindustrialised Britain”.
He also said he would devolve employment support services.
5. Fixing the housing crisis
Burnham pointed out that one and a half million council homes have been sold off via ‘right to buy’ since the 1980s, and that a similar number of people are on social housing waiting lists.
He said that Britain’s housing crisis and the temporary accommodation bill are having a “ruinous” impact on the UK’s public finances.
Burnham said No 10 North will work with local areas to oversee the biggest council housebuilding programme since the post-war period.
Olivia Barber is a reporter at Left Foot Forward
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