Andy Burnham pledged to devolve more powers on housing and education to Sir Sadiq Khan as he firmly pinned the blame on Whitehall and the Westminster government for Britain's living standards crisis.
Biggest Devolution of Power in Modern Times
The Prime Minister-in-waiting argued that the "biggest devolution of power in modern times" to regenerate England's regions would help London by reducing the forces driving its "overheated economy and overcrowded housing market." However, Mr Burnham's blueprint for Britain is set to see tens of thousands of government jobs moved out of London to the regions, which are due to get billions of pounds more in public funding.
In a speech in Manchester full of bold pledges, but with no detail about how they would be funded, he vowed to put Britain on a "new direction" to drag it out of the "rut" which he said it has been stuck in since the 2008/09 financial crash, with millions of people seeing their living standards stagnating or falling.
Good Growth in Every Postcode
Setting the bar high for his expected premiership, he offered voters across the country "good growth in every postcode, hope in every heart." Dressed in his trademark dark T-shirt and jacket, his passionate speech was a marked contrast to the leadership of Sir Keir Starmer, who was forced to resign as Prime Minister by a huge Labour revolt.
Speaking at The People's Museum, Mr Burnham said: "We will bring about the biggest rebalancing of power our country has seen." He also promised the biggest council homes building programme since the post-war period.
Addressing Anti-London Concerns
Addressing concerns that his masterplan may be anti-London, he added: "Yes, more powers for London too, over education and housing, so that London can do more for itself and remain the world's greatest capital." Former Mayor of Greater Manchester Mr Burnham stressed: "The whole country suffers when the regions and nations are not meeting their potential, and Londoners are left with an overheated economy and an overcrowded housing market."
Pointing the finger of blame, he added: "It is time for Whitehall to accept that growth cannot be ordered from the top down. Instead, it can only be nurtured from the bottom up. Westminster has not been working for people and it has not been working for a very long time. In fact, it is broken."
No10 North and Whitehall Turf Wars
He fleshed out his plan for a "No10 North" which he stressed would be a "nerve centre of a rewired brain." He explained: "The job of No10 North will be to make power flow into the Midlands, into the South West, into the East of England, and yes, into London, as much as into the North East, Yorkshire, and the Humber, and here in the North West."
Mr Burnham, now MP for Makerfield, launched a scathing attack on "Whitehall turf wars" as he argued that central Government was working less well than when he was last a Cabinet minister in Gordon Brown's government in 2010. "Let me say this very directly: the days of Whitehall fighting the devolution of power into the regions and nations are over for good," he added.
Ten-Year Mission to Raise Living Standards
He outlined his "10-year mission" to raise living standards by spreading his "Manchesterism" policies, which includes closer working between government, the private sector, universities and communities, across the country. He promised "the stability that comes from sound public finances" and "the discipline of our current fiscal rules."
He declined to give any hint whether he would appoint Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband, or another senior figure, as his Chancellor. Mr Burnham 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. His plans have sparked a warning from Sir Sadiq not to cut investment in the capital.
City Hall Supports Devolution
But a City Hall spokesman said: "Sadiq supports Andy's commitment to more devolution in London and around the country. It will be essential for increasing growth and productivity, and creating the good jobs all our communities need."
