Former Welsh Government minister Mick Antoniw has expressed his hope that Andy Burnham, the newly elected MP for Makerfield, can restore faith in the Labour Party in Wales and across the UK. Writing in a personal opinion piece, Antoniw draws on his 52 years as a Labour Party member to argue that Burnham, while not a messiah, could be the saviour of the party's soul.
Burnham's rise to potential premiership
Antoniw recalls being in Makerfield with a large Welsh contingent of Burnham supporters a few weeks ago, noting that Burnham's by-election success and subsequent meteoric rise should ensure he becomes Prime Minister by next month. The speed of change reminds Antoniw of a scene from Monty Python's "The Life of Brian," where John Cleese's character declares Brian the messiah, adding, "I should know ... I have followed a few." Antoniw emphasises that Burnham is a natural leader, modest yet passionate, who can win the hearts and minds of the people and the nations and regions of the UK.
Radical devolution proposals
Antoniw highlights Burnham's speech on devolution and the decentralisation of power as the most radical from any Labour leader since the second world war. Burnham's promise of change to the balance of power in the UK offers a vision of hope and belief in a better and more equal future. Antoniw compares this to Gordon Brown's 1980s speech as Chancellor, where he declared that Labour is always best when it is Labour, a sentiment that will resonate with Labour members and much of the Welsh population.
Tackling institutionalised inequality
Burnham has targeted institutionalised inequality as a core weakness in democracy, focusing on the ever-increasing disparity in wealth and power between the south east of England and the rest of the country. Antoniw argues that inequality creates division and political instability, engraining poverty into generation after generation and undermining public confidence in civic governance and democracy, opening the door to far-right populism and extremism. He notes that the UK is one of the most over-centralised democracies in Europe, and over 40 percent of the population no longer believe that voting can change anything.
Implications for Wales and constitutional reform
Antoniw stresses that Burnham's proposals will have massive implications for Wales. While addressing regional devolution in England is long overdue, it alone cannot resolve the UK's constitutional jigsaw. Burnham's vision of deeper devolution, moving power and decision-making closer to people and communities, can only be achieved through consensus with all four governments and constitutional reform. Antoniw calls for revisiting Gordon Brown's report on the constitutional and economic future of the UK, commissioned by Keir Starmer but then abandoned. The report recommended that decision-making should be as close to people as possible and that Wales should have equal status to Scotland.
Specific reforms proposed
Antoniw urges Burnham to adopt the Brown report's recommendations in full, including radical reform of the relationship between the UK's nations by appointing a Minister for the Nations and Regions to replace the outdated territorial Offices of Wales and Scotland. He also calls for the abolition of the House of Lords, to be replaced with an elected second chamber of the nations and regions. While Burnham has not proposed reform of the Barnett formula, Antoniw argues this will have to be addressed for decentralisation and devolution to succeed.
Achievable goals for a Burnham government
Antoniw acknowledges that a Burnham government will be unable to rectify all past failures, especially for Wales, but identifies several achievable steps: recognition of future HS2 funding to Wales, devolution of the Crown estate, and devolution of youth justice, probation, and policing. These are things Burnham can do as Prime Minister with three years until the next General Election.
Restoring internal democracy in the Labour Party
Antoniw also stresses the importance of steps Burnham must take as Leader of the Labour Party to restore internal democracy and the diversity of its politics, which were absent during recent elections. In Wales, as in Scotland and across England, the results were a disaster. The centre-left coalition that kept Welsh Labour in government for 27 years disintegrated. Antoniw argues that many Labour supporters transferred their allegiance to Plaid Cymru because Labour failed to be seen as standing up for Wales and as the main opposition to Reform.
Welsh Labour's need for autonomy
Antoniw concludes that Welsh Labour must change and have the confidence to become de facto autonomous, in charge of its own rule book, part of the Labour family but always an advocate for Wales and social justice.
Mick Antoniw is the former Labour Senedd member for Pontypridd and a former Counsel General and Minister for the Constitution in the Welsh Government.
