Burnham to tell MPs public ownership is the only way to grow the UK economy

Andy Burnham will return to the Commons frontbench for the first time in 16 years with a broad argument: the UK economy cannot grow properly while essential services remain outside public control.

Six weeks after becoming prime minister, Burnham will present policies announced during the summer recess and place public ownership at the center of his priorities for the coming months. He is expected to say that the cost of everyday services is weighing on family budgets, restricting investment, jobs and growth.

A government source said Burnham would argue that public control could unlock investment and promised a plan to regain control over service costs. The prime minister is also expected to say he wants to “bring back hope” in politics and work constructively with opposition parties.

That pledge will face an early test as the government considers legislation to make it easier to bring struggling utilities, including Thames Water, into public ownership. The proposed approach could involve placing companies into insolvency proceedings before taking control of them. Burnham has described public control of water companies as central to his vision.

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Andy is optimistic about our country’s future. He has a clear plan for how we turn things round. He is determined we make this the moment we bring back hope.

His government also faces decisions on possible changes to the immigration bill to exempt carers, pressure from MPs to support electoral reform and a pending quasi-judicial decision on further North Sea drilling, an issue that divides the governing party.

Burnham is expected to deliver a sharp criticism of privatized services, arguing that utilities and transport have not served the public interest and are neither reliable nor affordable. He will point to efforts to bring bus routes under public control, including a partnership between No 10 North and the West Midlands Combined Authority. Liverpool City Region is due to begin taking control of bus services the following weekend.

The Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch, has reshuffled her team ahead of the confrontation. She dismissed shadow chancellor Mel Stride and shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel, replacing them with Andrew Griffith and Tom Tugendhat respectively.

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bring back hope