As Andy Burnham prepares to launch his bid to succeed Sir Keir Starmer as Labour leader, a long-anticipated campaign promise has taken centre stage: a commitment to decentralise power across the UK, with far-reaching implications for Scotland's devolved government. The Greater Manchester mayor's vision, centred around empowering local communities and shifting authority from Westminster, is being met with both enthusiasm and scepticism – particularly in Scotland, where opposition parties have accused him of making "empty promises" that fail to grasp the complexity of devolution.
At the heart of Burnham's strategy lies a desire to tackle what he describes as the "broken" Westminster system, which has led to an over-centralisation of power. He argues that this must be countered with a radical overhaul, extending the Prime Minister's office outside London and creating a "Number 10 North" in Manchester – a move aimed at delivering the "biggest change in our lifetime to the way the country is run". This would see local authorities taking on more responsibility for services such as employment support, allowing for tailored systems based on regional needs.
However, while Burnham acknowledges Scotland's advanced level of devolution – with significant powers over areas like health and education – he suggests that many communities still feel disconnected from Holyrood. He aims to address this by reforming services in line with local requirements, but critics argue that his proposals fall short of genuinely addressing the needs of Scotland.
SNP Westminster Leader Dave Doogan has dismissed Burnham's promises as "vague and empty", arguing they fail to offer anything meaningful for Scotland. Meanwhile, Scottish Green spokesperson Kristopher Leask has questioned whether Burnham's vision is truly geared towards decentralising power across the UK – or if it simply treats Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland as secondary considerations.