Burnham pledges radical devolution of UK govt if becomes PM

Andy Burnham, the frontrunner to become Britain's next prime minister, has vowed to implement the most substantial rebalancing of power in the country's history if he succeeds Keir Starmer as Labour leader. In a keynote speech delivered in Manchester, Burnham declared his intention to give Britain the "circuit breaker it needs" by devolving greater authority to regional mayors.

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I am going to give Britain the circuit breaker it needs.

Burnham, who until recently led Greater Manchester, criticized the UK's highly centralized political structure, stating, "We need a new determination to raise living standards of every single person in this land." He argued that fixing the economy and the country requires a fundamental change in politics, which must happen immediately. He aims to put power "in the hands of the people and places who can use it best."

Should Burnham face no challengers and become leader, he could assume the prime minister's post as early as mid-July. He plans to create a "No. 10 North" office, a nod to the prime minister's Downing Street address, to be based in Manchester. This office would coordinate devolution efforts and focus on "growth and regeneration." Burnham also pledged to oversee the largest council house building program since the post-war era, though he did not detail the funding for this initiative amid the UK's tight public finances.

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We need a new determination to raise living standards of every single person in this land. And we must accept that to do that, to fix the economy and the country, we need to change politics and we need to do it now.

Defining his economic philosophy as "Manchesterism" – a blend of business-friendly socialism – Burnham has expressed skepticism towards trickle-down economics and neoliberalism. He advocates for greater public control over essential services like transport, water, and energy, though he remained vague on whether this entails full renationalization of utilities. His proposals come as the Labour party, which won power in 2024, has struggled to fully revitalize the British economy, which has faced headwinds including the US-Iran war impacting inflation.

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We will create a more streamlined state with a clearer purpose: to power up all parts of the country and put a laser-like focus on growth and regeneration.