Andy Burnham says he’ll deliver a circuit breaker to transform the UK economy if he becomes leader

Andy Burnham, likely Britain’s next prime minister, vowed on Monday to decentralize some of his power by giving local leaders more autonomy as a “circuit breaker” for the sclerotic British state.

The former mayor of Greater Manchester also said he would move part of the prime minister’s office from 10 Downing St. in London to northwest England as part of “the greatest rebalancing of power our country has ever seen.”

“Growth cannot be commanded from the top down. In fact, it can only be nurtured from the bottom up,” Burnham said in a speech aimed at informing voters, Labor colleagues and financial markets about his economic vision.

Burnham is the strongest candidate to replace Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who announced his resignation last week.

“If councils can’t fix potholes, what are their chances of delivering major regeneration plans that will boost growth?” Burnham said. It has drawn up a 10-year plan to achieve “good growth in every postcode” in a country where wealth and power are concentrated in London and the south of England.

He said he would reverse nearly two decades of low growth since the 2008 financial crisis with an approach called “Manchesterism” that uses private and public money to invest in areas such as transport, housing and infrastructure. He also promised to create new industrial jobs and better education opportunities, and to reform the UK’s inefficient and expensive privatized water and energy services.

The new ‘No’ is moving. 10 North to Manchester

In a speech at the People’s History Museum of the city where he served as mayor for nine years, Burnham said a new government office in Manchester, called “No. 10 North”, would oversee regional development across the country and become the “nerve center of a restructured Britain”. As part of the planned reforms, regional mayors will have more powers over housing, welfare and education.

Burnham’s stirring speech was brief on details of where the government would find more money and did not take questions from reporters.

Burnham has been praised for his role in the revitalization and regeneration of Manchester, but he has not served in the UK government for almost two decades and may struggle to replicate “Manchesterism” across the UK.

Starmer also announced a 10-year mission (equivalent to two terms in government) to transform Britain shortly after being elected overwhelmingly in July 2024. Starmer is leaving after two years in office marred by missteps and errors of judgment that damaged his reputation with his party and the public.

Burnham is likely to inherit the same diseases

Burnham won a special election for a seat in Parliament on 18 June and was sworn in as an MP on 22 June, the same day Starmer announced he would resign as soon as his successor was elected.

So far he is the only candidate in the Labor Party leadership race. If no one challenges him, he will become prime minister on July 20.

While Burnham is seen as more charismatic than the complacent Starmer, he will face many of the same political and economic challenges, including a stagnant economy, fragmented public services and a cost-of-living squeeze. It will also be constrained by the platform on which the centre-left Labor Party was elected in 2024, promising not to increase taxes on workers.

Like other NATO countries, the UK is under pressure to significantly increase defense spending to counter a more aggressive Russia and a less reliable United States.

The government’s long-awaited defense investment plan, which led to the resignation of Defense Minister John Healey on June 11, is expected to be published before the NATO summit to be held in Türkiye on July 7 and 8. Starmer’s successor is expected to stick to commitments in the plan.

“Andy Burnham’s big idea is to distribute power among politicians,” said Kevin Hollinrake, chairman of the opposition Conservative Party. “Don’t fix the welfare system. Don’t cut taxes that are choking working families and British businesses. Don’t fund the defense our country desperately needs.”

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Lawless reported from London.