Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has warned that Andy Burnham's plan for a 'Number 10 North' based in Manchester risks creating a new power bubble and overlooking left-behind communities. In a speech scheduled for Friday in Torbay, Devon, Sir Ed will argue that the prime minister-in-waiting's devolution proposals could push the government even further away from areas like the South West.
Davey Dubs Burnham 'Avanti Andy'
In a fresh attack on Sir Keir Starmer's likely successor, Sir Ed will dub the former metro mayor “Avanti Andy” and tell him “there is a Britain that lies beyond the tracks connecting Euston and Manchester Piccadilly.” The Liberal Democrat leader's comments come after Mr Burnham used a speech last week to pledge to “rewire” the British state with greater decision-making handed to local leaders.
Mr Burnham, who is almost guaranteed to become the next prime minister after securing 322 Labour MP nominations — 80% of the parliamentary party — by 5pm on Thursday, proposed creating an outpost of 10 Downing Street based in Manchester. He said this would serve as the “nerve centre” through which to deliver priorities including reindustrialisation and regeneration.
Concerns Over Overlooked Communities
Ahead of his visit to Torbay, Sir Ed said: “London and Manchester are brilliant cities and engines of innovation for our country, but Avanti Andy is heading for signal failure if he doesn’t rapidly realise there is a Britain that lies beyond the tracks connecting Euston and Manchester Piccadilly.” He added: “From the Devon coast to Swansea’s streets and Shetland’s shores, people are utterly fed up with being overlooked.”
Sir Ed emphasised that Mr Burnham has a very short window to turn the government around, end chaos, and build trust with communities across the UK. “From restoring axed rural bus services to saving our high streets from terminal decay, Liberal Democrats will be holding Avanti Andy to account on putting real power back into the hands of local communities,” he said.
Burnham's Path to Premiership
Mr Burnham is almost guaranteed to be the next prime minister after 322 Labour MPs nominated him to take over from Sir Keir Starmer. With only 81 Labour MPs remaining who could nominate another contender — the minimum needed to get on the ballot — convention dictates that the outgoing leader does not nominate a candidate, meaning there are no longer enough undeclared MPs to back an alternative to Mr Burnham.
