Andy Burnham, the newly elected Makerfield MP and former mayor of Greater Manchester, delivered a speech at the People's History Museum in Manchester on Monday morning, calling for a fundamental reset in how Britain is governed. The speech, which took place at around 11:30 BST, outlined his plans to replace Sir Keir Starmer as Labour Party leader and prime minister.
Key Policy Announcements
Burnham unveiled plans to shift decision-making power away from Whitehall, creating a 'Number 10 in the North' and giving local leaders more control over economic development, investment, and public services. He emphasized a '10-year mission' to raise living standards through reindustrialisation, housing, infrastructure, and reform of essential utilities. He also called for a new political culture focused on 'place before party, problem-solving before point-scoring, and long-term thinking over short-term politics'.
According to a report from the Manchester Evening News on Saturday, one potential interim location for the 'Number 10 in the North' could be the new 'Manchester Digital Campus' at the former Toys 'R' Us retail store in Ancoats. In March, Chancellor Rachel Reeves approved the site, which will house 8,800 civil servants—dubbed the 'Whitehall of the North'—with an estimated 4,900 jobs created during construction. The speech also set out a vision of 'good growth in every postcode', giving local leaders like mayors the power and money to make their own decisions.
Political Context and Reactions
Burnham is expected to say that his motivation for standing for prime minister is to 'change politics to make it work for us', and suggest that his generation of politicians—including himself—must take responsibility for the loss of public trust in politics. He will outline how he plans to 'give Britain the circuit-breaker it needs'.
Following the announcement that Sir Keir Starmer would step down on June 22, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage called for a general election. However, senior Labour figures dismissed the prospect, with Deputy Labour leader Lucy Powell stating that the newly elected MP had built up a 'clear sense of purpose' and that people wanted the party to 'get on with the job'.
Burnham did not take questions from journalists after his speech, a move that drew criticism from Reform UK’s deputy leader Richard Tice, who said Burnham was giving a 'big speech today with no questions from journalists' and accused him of dodging scrutiny. He added: 'No debate in Parliament. No scrutiny from MPs until September. Power without accountability.' But Alastair Campbell, Sir Tony Blair’s former spin doctor, defended the decision, saying: 'Speeches matter and when important should speak for themselves. If and when he becomes PM, Burnham will be answerable to Parliament, not the showbiz-style media coverage of politics.'
