Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary Steve Reed has backed Andy Burnham's plans to 'go further and faster' on devolution, building on what he called the 'fantastic start' made by Sir Keir Starmer's Government. In a speech on Wednesday, Reed will outline achievements in tackling regional inequalities, denying it is a pitch to retain his post after Burnham is expected to become prime minister.
Praise for 'No 10 North'
Speaking to the Press Association on Tuesday, Reed praised Burnham's pledge to transfer power and money from Whitehall to the regions, driven by a new 'No 10 North' based in Manchester. 'This Government has made a fantastic start, but Andy has made clear he wants to go further and faster, and I fully support that,' Reed said. He described the northern outpost as a 'great idea' that would give Burnham a 'better sense of the issues and challenges that confront other parts of the country.'
Devolution Progress
Asked whether Starmer's Government had moved too slowly on devolution, Reed said: 'No. We've delivered the biggest programme of devolution in our country's history.' He added that changes cannot be made overnight 'because the system would collapse. So you have to go at the pace that the system can cope with.' Reed pointed to the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026, which transfers decision-making to regional mayors, including public control of local transport and local government reorganisation.
Rejecting Job Speculation
Reed dismissed suggestions that his speech was an attempt to retain his brief in a Burnham cabinet, saying it would detail 'what this Government's done to date, and where we're looking to go next to speed it up.' When pressed on whether he would oversee future plans, Reed said: 'You'll need to ask Andy Burnham about that, not me.'
Contrast with Tory Levelling-Up
Reed rejected comparisons between Burnham's plans and Boris Johnson's levelling-up agenda, which failed partly due to insufficient state resources. 'This Government has already shown by what we've done to date, with packing funding resources and powers behind the devolution agenda, it is already making a difference,' he said. 'It couldn't be more different from the hollow words of the Conservatives.'
Burnham's Path to No 10
Reed, a Starmer loyalist, said he hoped Burnham would be installed in No 10 'as quickly as possible' by the end of July, enjoying 'very widespread support amongst the Parliamentary Labour Party.' He described Burnham's delay in announcing ministerial appointments as 'normal' until after taking office. Burnham did not take questions after his Monday speech, but Reed brushed aside accusations of dodging scrutiny, saying the 'speech spoke by itself.'
