Andy Burnham, the newly elected MP for Makerfield, is set to deliver a landmark speech on Monday morning, promising a seismic shift in power dynamics from Whitehall. Speaking at Manchester's People's History Museum, Mr Burnham aims to articulate a vision for the UK, vowing to lift Britain back onto its former pedestal and inject it with the "circuit breaker" it so desperately needs.
A cornerstone of his proposals is a significant redistribution of power away from Westminster, marking what his team describes as "the biggest transfer of power out of Whitehall in modern times." While this initiative won't replicate the scale of devolution seen in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, nor the establishment of English regional mayors, it seeks to empower politicians beyond London. Allies suggest that Mr Burnham's experience as Mayor of Greater Manchester highlighted the difficulties faced by local authorities when trying to navigate Whitehall's bureaucracy, a hurdle he is determined to overcome.
Among the flagship ideas set to be unveiled is the creation of a "No10 North" unit, based in part in Manchester. This proposed body would form an integral part of the Prime Minister's operation, specifically tasked with driving devolution and promoting "good growth in every postcode" across the UK. Sources close to Mr Burnham stress that this initiative will not be confined to the North of England; rather, it will extend its focus to other English regions, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Further details are anticipated regarding Mr Burnham's desire for "public control" over essential services such as energy, water, and transport. His speech is expected to outline his intentions in these areas, though the exact level of state intervention and implementation timeline will be scrutinised closely. The extent to which these proposals might resemble nationalisation remains a key question that reporters will be keen to address, despite indications that Mr Burnham may not take questions immediately following the speech – a decision his team insists will not become a pattern.
Responding to the anticipated speech, Kevin Hollinrake, Chairman of the Conservative Party, criticised Mr Burnham's approach. He stated, "Andy Burnham's big idea is to shuffle power between politicians. Not fix the welfare system. Not cut the taxes strangling working families and British business. Not fund the defence our country desperately needs." Mr Hollinrake dismissed the proposals as "the politics of distraction from a Labour Party that is deliberately avoiding the questions that actually matter."
Looking ahead, Mr Burnham's team indicates that having outlined his vision, he will then turn his attention to potential policy implementation and working with local authorities to make these ambitious plans a reality.