Andy Burnham today laid out his vision for Britain as he was confirmed as the Labour Party's new leader. The prime minister-in-waiting said there were 'five things' he will do to 'make us better,' including handing more power to regional communities and eradicating the 'insidious briefing culture' that has plagued his party. Mr Burnham pledged to be a leader 'for the north, the south, the east, and the west, for Scotland, Wales, and for Northern Ireland.'
First Promise: Building a United Labour Team
Mr Burnham said he would 'work relentlessly to build a culture of one Labour team,' arguing that infighting 'falls heaviest on the people who need Labour most.' He vowed to fight the 'insidious briefing culture' and said, 'In future, when a Burnhamite walks into a bar, I want the barman to say, “Great to see you. We don’t like factional politics in here.”' He added that he would not seek to suspend or punish members with principled views different from his own.
Second Promise: A New Politics
Mr Burnham called for a 'problem-solving rather than a point-scoring approach,' noting that the public is infuriated by political point-scoring. He said he would tell people what he will do, rather than always going on about others, and would have the courage to fix big things like social care. He also expressed a desire to find common ground with other parties to make change more lasting.
Third Promise: Distinctively Labour Direction
Mr Burnham said he would set a direction that is 'distinctively Labour,' not trying to out-Green the Greens or out-Reform Reform. He criticized the 1980s centralization and privatization, stating, 'Britain took a series of wrong turns in the 1980s. Political power was centralized, and economic power was privatized.' He argued that this led to the concentration of wealth and power in fewer hands and places.
Fourth Promise: Leader for All Parts of the Country
Mr Burnham emphasized that he would be a leader for all regions, saying, 'Yes, the north of England has given me so much... but now I do the same for everywhere.' He noted that the same challenges exist in the southwest as the northwest, and in East Anglia as the northeast. He pledged to speak for all parts of the country and unite people in a common cause.
Fifth Promise: Devolution of Power
Mr Burnham promised to 'take power back from Westminster and Whitehall, and give it to the place where you live.' He cited his friend Steve Rotheram's plan to put the Mersey Rail Network back in public ownership by 2028, cutting fares and running trains in the interests of passengers. He also pledged more power to build council homes, improve high streets, and re-industrialize, along with an education system based on parity between academic and technical education.
Personal Reflections and Acknowledgments
Mr Burnham thanked his mentors, including Lord Blunkett, Dame Margaret Beckett, and Neil Kinnock, saying he would not have joined the party in 1985 without Kinnock. He acknowledged his shortcomings but affirmed his commitment: 'I have always given it my all, and I always will.' He concluded by saying, 'I am for us, for all of us,' and expressed confidence that Labour can bring back hope.
