On Monday, vast swathes of Greater Manchester watched a historic moment as Andy Burnham delivered his first speech as Prime Minister outside Number 10 Downing Street.
For some, it was a moment of pride; for others, scepticism. “I don’t normally watch the news but when I heard it was him, I did put it on,” said Anne Foster, a pensioner in Ashton-Under-Lyne.
“It is weird to think he was just round the corner a few weeks ago, coming to places like this – and now he’s our Prime Minister,” added Sammy, 53, from Eccles.
From mayor to PM in under a month
In less than a month, Mr Burnham has gone from Greater Manchester mayor to leader of the country, after Sir Keir Starmer stepped down. He quickly assembled one of the most northern cabinets in history.
Many residents expressed cautious optimism about his northern roots. “I want him to give us something to be excited about,” said Chelsea Daniels, 25, in St Peter’s Square. “Because nothing does at the moment, everything feels s**t.”
High street decline and cost of living
Barbara, 66, a Salford pensioner, gestured to boarded-up shops in Eccles shopping precinct: “This place used to be thriving. Now look at it. There’s places like this all over the country.” Despite being hopeful, she added: “Let’s see if they’re all clapping and cheering in a year.”
Stuart Frost, 64, a fire station cleaner from Tyldesley, said: “I’m pleased that someone rooted in the north west is in the job, he knows these areas have been left behind.” He called for more quality businesses on the high street, not “vape shops and all these barbers”.
Early policies and doubts
Mr Burnham has announced cuts to business rates for pubs, clubs and live music venues, a cut to VAT on electricity bills, and a £2 bus fare cap. Many welcomed the moves but had doubts.
Darren Lowe in Stockport said he was “optimistic” but thought the VAT cut on electricity was “a little bit short”. Ray, a pensioner in Failsworth, noted his heating is gas, costing £450 a month, and said the cut would barely affect him. “I also feel like as a pensioner, we’re bottom of the pile,” he said.
Rumours that Mr Burnham might allow further North Sea drilling raised concerns. Elise Braid, 25, said: “I think young people might not like him for that. The last thing we need is climate change to get worse.”
Experience and immigration concerns
Pat Lomas, 81, a retiree from Whitefield, doubted Burnham’s experience: “He might have run Manchester, but he’s not run a country and it’s happened in such a short space of time.” Steve Royle, from Wilmslow, said: “The jury is out. He is totally Labour. He will go in spend, spend, spend and then blame the black holes on someone else.”
Success, a healthcare provider from Eccles, worried about Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s plans to extend the waiting period for settled status. “I’m here on a skilled worker’s visa, you’re fully reliant on a company to sponsor you for the whole period. It’s a lot of instability,” she said.
Mixed feelings overall
Other demands included more apprenticeships, tougher sanctions on crime, and more local power. On balance, many were positive. “He’s a real northerner,” said Sammy. “He knows what it’s like round here, and what needs to be done. I think he’ll do a good job.”
Alan Hoey, 54, who runs two companies in Whitefield, said Burnham “seemed to have his heart in the north” and hoped he would bring power to northern communities. Many others said they were “withholding judgment”. Jeff Rayner, 51, from Ashton-under-Lyne, summed it up: “You’ve got what you wanted now, Andy Burnham. You’ve got the power. Now keep your promises and give back to the people.”
