Burnham speech latest: Labour MP unveils ‘No 10 North’ as part of ‘rewired Britain’ in 10-year policy plan

We are seeing the backlash following Andy Burnham’s speech and it is no surprise that northern leaders have welcomed Mr Burnham’s call for greater devolution.

Mr Burnham said his plan was a “rejection of the trickle-down model” of the economy and promised “good growth in all British postcodes”.

A form of devolution already exists in the northern regions, with elected mayors in places such as Manchester and West Yorkshire.

They make decisions regarding transportation, housing and economic growth.

Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce chief executive Wayne Jones OBE said: Independent: “As Mayor of Greater Manchester, Mr Burnham has seen first-hand what can be achieved when regions are given control over areas such as public transport.

“For too long, power in this country has been centralized in London, with little thought given to the needs of individual areas. Having regional mayors was a step in the right direction, but more power needs to be devolved for areas to reach their full potential.”

He added: “It is encouraging that the government is talking about establishing a ‘No 10 North’ to help focus on what needs to be done in the North.”

Last week Mr Jones said many areas in the country had suffered from past promises to raise living standards as part of the post-Brexit “Level Up” plan.

Andy Burnham made his speech to an audience of approximately 100 supporters; The front row was taken by regional mayors including Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram, South Yorkshire’s Oliver Coppard, West Midlands’ Richard Parker and West Yorkshire’s Tracy Brabin.

Labor deputy leader Lucy Powell was sitting across the center aisle from the mayors, a group of Manchester local MPs including Jonathan Reynolds and Afzal Khan.

The speech, which lasted approximately 30 minutes, was interspersed with applause; the biggest was Burnham’s definition of what he called “Manchesterism”, his announcement of Number 10 for the north and his criticism of Whitehall and his commitment to house building.

The Independent’s senior correspondent Dan Haygarth reports live from Manchester:

Andy Burnham’s first speech since his return to Westminster politics has set out how he would govern if he becomes Keir Starmer’s successor in Downing Street, as expected.

The choice of venue (the People’s History Museum in Manchester) was telling, and the history of the former industrial area flowed into the conversation as the new Makerfield MP said Labor was a grassroots, grassroots movement built on working-class aspiration and anchoring the foundations of British life.

He had reverted to what he called his “Manchester attire” – no suit and tie, just a black T-shirt and a blazer – and filled the front row of the hall with his former regional mayor colleagues.

This was Mr. Burnham firmly in his own comfort zone, speaking passionately and authentically about the need to bring hope and strength to this part of the country; these themes were central to his agenda as mayor of Greater Manchester.

Those in the room, whether Northern MPs’ regional mayors, took part in a speech outlining how No 10 North and increased devolution would enable “good growth” in parts of the country long thought to be forgotten.

While there is no doubt that Mr Burnham’s “Manchesterism”, particularly his shift of at least part of the government’s heartland to Manchester as a “nerve centre” for radical devolution plans, would be welcomed by many outside the M25, this was Burnham at his most confident and relaxed; Surrounded by his allies, he discussed his favorite subjects in agreement with him.

He finished his speech to rapturous applause, before being ushered into a prepared car by his friend and close ally, Steve Rotheram, mayor of the Liverpool city region, without taking questions from the media; This will further fuel arguments that he is avoiding press scrutiny because he is aiming for the highest office in the land.

Andy Burnham declared a “10-year mission to raise people’s living standards.”

“I know people can’t wait forever for change,” he said, outlining reforms on re-industrialisation, job rates, housing and education.

“Everything starts with a good home, and this country finally needs to put that at the top of its priority list,” he said.

“No 10 North will be able to support all sites, high streets and local centers around these towns, increasing foot traffic on the high street and protecting more green spaces from development.

“To reinforce this, we will reform business rates to support pubs and high street businesses, businesses that provide social benefit to communities, and let me finish by saying, shouldn’t we be making our high streets the new symbol of Britain’s Renaissance, rather than a sign of decline?”

Andy Burnham has announced that No 10 North will oversee the biggest town hall building program since the post-war period.

Mr Burnham said: “England has lost almost a million and a half council homes since the 1980s and around the same number of people are now on housing waiting lists and have been there for a very long time. As a result the country is in a housing trap. We are being forced to chase rents in the private rented sector through the benefits system.”

The call for more council housing has been widely applauded as it calls for council housing to be built using vacant public land to reduce costs.

Whitehall Editor Kate Devlin reports:

Andy Burnham has confirmed he is preparing to create ‘No 10 North’ by moving part of his Downing Street operation to Manchester if he becomes prime minister as expected.

While giving a speech about his vision for government in the city, he emphasized that the office “will only be located here.” “No 10 North’s job will be to keep power flowing to the Midlands, the South West, the East of England and, yes, London…as it does to the North East, Yorkshire and the Humber, and here to the North West.”

And he said it would be “about delivering new opportunities to extend devolution in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland”.

It will be the “nerve center” of a restructured nation, he promised, “the conduit through which we redistribute power and resources.”

He also announced that he would be given the mission to “strive for equal living conditions throughout Britain”.

And he warned that the “battle of Whitehall days” of devolution of power from the center were “completely over”.

Andy Burnham has called for ending education and directing people only to university to address the NEET crisis, where almost a million 16-24 year olds are not in education, employment or training.

“I take the findings of Alan Milburn’s latest report very seriously. We need to completely rethink how we support the next generation to succeed, and this must start with the education system. The days of a school system built entirely around the university route will be over.”

Political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:

Andy Burnham said the government plan would be “the biggest change in our lifetime to the way the country is run” but insisted it would be within the boundaries of Labour’s 2024 general election manifesto.

He said: “This change will be the biggest change in our lifetime to the way the country is run and that is consistent with the 2024 manifesto.

“We will create a more orderly state with a clearer purpose. I will make the biggest change in our lives, right across the country, with a laser-like focus on growth and renewal, good growth. The change will be delivered through the prime minister’s office, with an expanded operation based here in Manchester.”

Senior correspondent Dan Haygarth reports live from Manchester:

Perhaps it’s no surprise that this Northern crowd was delighted when Andy Burnham confirmed the prime minister’s office would be expanded to Manchester (‘the nerve center of restructured Britain’, in his words), once again drawing applause.

Political editor David Maddox reports:

Andy Burnham has sent a message to markets that he wants to be radical but won’t take on more debt to finance it.

In his speech, he promised to adhere to the “discipline of our existing fiscal rules.”

This means adhering to Rachel Reeves’ borrowing rules and maintaining economic stability.

This would prevent a damaging trend in gilt markets that would increase the cost of borrowing.