Andy Burnham Reveals What He’ll Do When He Takes Over as Prime Minister
Andy Burnham has just delivered a speech in Manchester setting out his intentions for Government if he becomes Prime Minister. It looks almost inevitable that Mr Burnham will succeed Sir Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street. Today, he outlined his key priorities for when he takes charge.
More Houses for the Council
Mr Burnham has promised the biggest council house building plan since the post-war era. “We’ll use public land, vacant public land, to drive down costs,” he stated.
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Democratic Control Over Water and Energy
“public control of essential services such as water, housing, energy and transport for local or regional leaders like mayors.
More Strength to the North
A “Number 10 North” will be created up so fewer decisions are made in the regular Number 10 – in London’s Downing Street.
Mr Burnham said: “No 10 North will be the nerve centre of a rewired Britain.
“It will be the channel through which we share power and resources across the UK.”
He said Whitehall will be compelled to give up power to places around the country.
Let me say this very clearly: the days of Whitehall battling the devolution of authority into the regions and nations are ended once and for all.
Management of Borrowings
Andy Burnham has committed to provide Britain with “breathing space” on rising costs “as soon as I can” without “taking risks with the public finances”.
He did not declare outright that he would keep borrowing low, but that is what he means by not “taking risks with the public finances”, as borrowing too much would increase the interest the Treasury has to pay.
And he pledged “the stability that comes from sound public finances” and “the discipline of our current fiscal rules”.
Buy British
Public services and organisations will have to back British firms as they spend billions of pounds of taxpayers’ money.
“Every pound raised from taxpayers will work harder for them, that approach will apply fully to the defence investment plan,” Mr Burnham added.
“We will ensure all eligible public contracts are subject to proper social value weighting and we will do that to make sure British-based companies are in a better position to win those contracts.”
National Economic Growth
Mr Burnham pledged “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, good growth”.
Involving Young People in Job or Education
Andy Burnham cited high levels of unemployment among 16 to 24 year olds and said he will eliminate “the days of a school system configured entirely around the university route”.
He said: “The era of a school system organised exclusively around the university track will be finished.
“University is great for those who want it but when are we going to start looking at the life chances of those kids who want something different? That the country hasn’t done for a long, long time.
“There has been for many years the case for an education system based on parity between academic and technical, and that is what we will build, giving every young person growing up here a clear pathway into a reindustrialised Britain.”
Key Takeaways
Andy Burnham’s speech in Manchester outlined a broad agenda covering housing, public ownership of essential services, regional devolution, fiscal discipline, support for British businesses, economic growth, and education reform. The proposals focus on reshaping public services, strengthening local government, supporting domestic industries, and expanding opportunities for young people through both academic and technical education.
As outlined above, these seven priorities form the core of Andy Burnham’s vision for government if he becomes the next Prime Minister.