Andy Burnham is on track to become prime minister on July 20, and he has begun outlining his agenda for Number 10. While he has stated he will adhere to the Labour manifesto from the 2024 General Election, he has also proposed several significant policy shifts. These cover immigration, public services, the European Union, housing, and employment.
New EU Trade Deal
In a Reddit Q&A, Burnham was asked whether he would continue the current government's efforts to build a closer relationship with the EU and pursue a more ambitious trade agreement. He responded, “Yes, I will build on the good work the Government has already done in this area.” A planned EU summit on July 22, where Sir Keir Starmer intended to sign new agreements, has been postponed until October due to the leadership change. Burnham’s approach would likely require UK laws to align with EU regulations, such as matching food safety rules to remove trade barriers, potentially adopting EU regulations enacted since Brexit.
Massive Home-Building Programme
Burnham has pledged “the biggest council house-building programme since the post-war period,” asserting that “nothing else will fix” the housing crisis. This would involve forcing councils to grant planning permissions for housing developments and potentially rewarding local areas with extra funding when housing is built.
Deporting More Asylum Seekers
Despite being seen as on the soft-Left of Labour, Burnham has called for negotiating return agreements with countries like Afghanistan to deport individuals whose asylum claims have been rejected, especially those convicted of serious and violent crimes.
Public Control of Water, Energy, Housing, and Transport
Burnham wants politicians to have more control over essential privatised services to reduce bills for the public. He suggested regional mayors could take over these services rather than central government. However, he noted that “public control can include a range of measures, from strong regulation to public ownership,” leaving specifics unclear.
Getting Young People into Work
Burnham vowed to cut high unemployment among 16 to 24-year-olds by expanding technical and vocational education, particularly in fields like engineering with worker shortages. He aims to end “the days of a school system configured entirely around the university route.”
Plus – Changing the Voting System
Burnham also supports proportional representation but plans to introduce it only after the next general election, if he remains prime minister. He stated, “I am a strong supporter of electoral reform, partly because I believe it will enable the change to a more collaborative politics, and one that is less about point-scoring and more about problem-solving. I will seek to persuade my own party of the need for a manifesto commitment to it in the next manifesto.”
