Labour's Andy Burnham has said he will bring 'change' to Scotland as he told people north of the border that Westminster is 'broken'. The Makerfield MP – who is expected to succeed Sir Keir Starmer as prime minister in July – promised the public he is 'going to do things differently'.
Burnham's Vision for Scotland
He vowed to take the same approach to politics in Scotland as he had to Manchester, where he became mayor in 2017, and where he said he had 'set about building a new politics based on the exact opposite of the Westminster approach'. Writing in the Scotsman newspaper, the likely next prime minister said: 'That is the approach I would bring to Scotland.'
Extension of Devolution and Number 10 North
His article comes on the back of a speech in Manchester on Monday where he set out his vision for the UK. In his speech he vowed there would be 'new opportunities to extend devolution in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland', with Mr Burnham also announcing plans to set up a 'Number 10 North' – an outpost of 10 Downing Street based in Manchester to drive his plans to transform the country.
Reactions from Scottish First Minister
Scottish First Minister John Swinney said on Monday he wanted to hear 'further detail on the substance of these proposals, and how they will fundamentally improve people's lives in Scotland'. The SNP leader also warned Mr Burnham that 'rhetoric alone will not cut it when Scotland so badly needs more job-creating powers and the ability to lower energy bills'.
Rebalancing Power
Mr Burnham said he would bring about 'the biggest rebalancing of power our country has seen, so together we can lift Britain back up to where it should be'. Writing in the Scotsman, he said: 'Number 10 North will be the nerve centre of a rewired Britain. It will be the conduit through which we redistribute power and resources across the UK. Its job will be to make power flow into places like Glasgow, Aberdeen, Dundee, Paisley and Easterhouse, not hold it back.'
Public Control of Essential Services
Mr Burnham added that 'all parts of the UK should be able to take greater public control of essential services such as water, housing, energy, and transport' – with this drawing on the model that has 'transformed our bus networks in Greater Manchester'. He also said that every region of the UK should be 'supported in setting clear and credible industrial ambitions' – with Mr Burnham adding that Scotland has opportunities in renewable energy, hydrogen and carbon capture and storage, as well as from its food and drink, shipbuilding and advanced manufacturing sectors.
Conclusion
He said: 'This is the change I am offering Scotland. Not more of the same. Not another decade of politics that spends too much time arguing and not enough time doing. Not a country where places are forgotten, written off, or told to wait their turn. A country wired to work for ordinary people rather than against them.'
