5 key takeaway’s from Andy Burnham’s speech

‘One of the most impressive Leader’s speeches I’ve seen in all the Labour conferences I’ve attended’, was how one Labour MP described Andy Burnham’s first speech as Prime Minister to Labour conference.

For this was a speech in which Burnham set out his vision for the country, recognising that technocratic tinkering or better management of the system simply won’t do, but that what’s needed to change the failed status go is bold and radical action aimed at transforming the system.

‘Britain has been on the wrong path for a long time’, Burnham told conference. From promising a new kind of politics which ends political point-scoring, to setting up a national commission on electoral reform to repealing Thatcher’s ban on public ownership of water companies, here are 5 key takeaway’s from Burnham’s speech.

1.Transforming housing with a new area of council housing

Burnham took on the housing crisis early in his speech, vowing to transform housing for the better, telling conference that without a decent house, nothing is possible.

He took aim at “absent landlords” who are paid through the benefits system but “refuse to reinvest anything” in their properties, vowing that his goverment would give warnings to those who refuse to improve housing and to give councils greater powers to acquire properties that are not up to standard.

He also set out leasehold reform, announcing that a bill will be introduced before Christmas on leasehold reform. “To the millions of leaseholders, you have my word- the days of you being squeezed for every penny are coming to an end”, he said.

2. Repeal Thatcher’s ban on public ownership of water companies

Burnham has made no secret of his desire to bring energy and water back under public control and told conference to much applause that he would repeal Thatcher’s ban on public ownership of water companies, Burnham says. “Water is a symbol of what has gone wrong with Britain” he said.

He also vowed to break the link between energy prices and international gas prices, while also announcing the creation of “Great British Grid” – which he says will speed up electricity grid connections.

3. Overhaul of social care

As expected, Burnham set out his desire to overhaul social care. He promised “a person centred care service that starts in the home”, saying that hhis National Care Service will not require people to pay for it by selling homes.“It will be fully funded and not through borrowing”, he told conference.

A broken social care system will break the NHS he warned, saying that this will be a landmark policy as critical as creating the NHS itself.

He also told care workers: “I want to speak directly to our care workers. You are not invisible to me”.

4. Government will launch a National Commission on Electoral Reform

To a standing ovation, Burnham confirmed that his government would launch a national commission on electoral reform.

“Today I am announcing a new National Commission on Electoral Reform. I invite all the political parties to be part of its work. We will contest the next election with a manifesto commitment to change the electoral system”, he said.

He said he was launching the commission so that “everyone’s vote counts and everyone’s voice is heard”.

5. Changes to the triple lock in 2030

Andy Burnham pledged to scrap the state pension triple lock after the next election “From April 2030, we will adjust it. The state pension will continue to rise every year at least by prices or 2.5%”

That means that it will become a double lock with will become a double lock, with wages taken out.

He said that ‘someone has to go through the pain barrier and rip the plaster off’ when it comes to the triple lock.