Andy Burnham, the Prime Minister-in-waiting, was due on Monday to unveil his economic blueprint for Britain, which aims to achieve the “biggest transfer of power out of Whitehall in modern times.” The landmark reforms are expected to relocate tens of thousands of government jobs from London to the regions, devolving far more decision-making authority.
Replacing Centralised Model with Local Growth
Seeking to rebalance the UK’s economy, Mr Burnham pledged to replace a “centralised, top-down model” with locally-driven economic growth. One of his flagship proposals is a 'No10 North' to drive devolution and coordinate long-term economic renewal across every nation and region of the UK.
After Sir Keir Starmer was forced to resign by a Labour revolt, Mr Burnham was set to say in a speech in Manchester that there must be a “change in how Britain is governed, not just changing who governs it.” His “central proposal” is a massive transfer of power out of Whitehall in a ten-year mission to raise living standards through reindustrialisation, housing, infrastructure, and reform of key utilities.
Ten-Year Plan and Potential Two Terms
His ten-year plan has sparked speculation that, if he becomes Prime Minister in mid-July as expected, he has his eyes set on two or even three terms in office. However, his radical agenda has already triggered a warning from London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan not to cut investment in the capital as billions more pounds are channelled to boost infrastructure in the North, Midlands, and other regions.
The former Greater Manchester Mayor is also said to be considering splitting up the Treasury to create an economic department in Darlington to drive growth, with a finance ministry remaining in Whitehall.
Support from Communities Secretary
Communities Secretary Steve Reed on Sunday said Mr Burnham would put “rocket boosters” under devolution, which he argued would be good for London as it would reduce UK migration to the capital, easing its housing crisis. Speaking at the People’s History Museum in Manchester, Mr Burnham was set to pledge to “lift Britain back up to where it should be” and deliver “good growth in every postcode.”
His reforms aim to “give Britain the circuit-breaker it needs” to drag it out of the economic slow lane.
Response to Youth Unemployment and Education Reform
Mr Burnham will signal a significant response to the report by former Labour Cabinet minister Alan Milburn into the number of young people not in education, employment, or training. London has the highest unemployment in the country, at 6.6%, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics, compared to 5% in the North West and 2.9% in the Wigan area, which includes part of Mr Burnham’s Makerfield constituency.
Mr Burnham will also lay out a vision for major reform to the education system so there is “true parity between academic and technical” courses, “offering a path” to all young people, and no longer “overly-focused on the university route.” Public procurement will be reformed to maximise support for British jobs and industry, with companies expected in return to offer more work placements and apprenticeships.
New Political Culture and Criticism
Mr Burnham will call for a new partnership between government, business, universities, and communities, drawing on his Greater Manchester Mayoralty. He was expected to say that he is standing to be Labour leader, and PM, to “change politics to make it work for us.” He noted that support for the Green Party led by Zack Polanski and Nigel Farage’s Reform UK has surged as voters deserted Labour and the Tories. Politicians, including himself, had to take responsibility for voters “losing trust in politics.”
Mr Burnham was due to argue for a “new political culture focused on place before party,” as well as “problem-solving before point-scoring” and long-term thinking over short-term politics. But Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake accused Mr Burnham of avoiding the difficult questions facing the country. “Andy Burnham’s big idea is to shuffle power between politicians,” he said. “Not fix the welfare system. Not cut the taxes strangling working families and British business. Not fund the defence our country desperately needs.”
