Andy Burnham is set to deliver his first major policy speech since launching his bid to become Britain’s next prime minister, outlining plans for a “No 10 North” and a sweeping program of devolution aimed at boosting growth and raising living standards across the UK.
Speaking in Manchester today (Monday), Burnham is expected to unveil a 10-year mission to improve living standards, expand opportunities for young people, and “lift Britain back up to where it should be.”
Central to his vision is a commitment to transfer greater powers from Whitehall to regional and local authorities, giving mayors increased control over social housing, welfare, education, and the budgets that support those services.
The proposal would place devolution at the heart of a future Labour government, with Burnham pledging to drive economic growth “across every nation and region of the UK” through locally led decision-making.
He is expected to argue that power must be shifted away from Westminster and into the hands of communities, promising “good growth in every postcode.”
If no other Labour MP enters the leadership contest, Burnham is expected to become prime minister on 20 July, succeeding Sir Keir Starmer.
Ahead of his speech, Burnham has faced calls from opposition parties to provide greater clarity on his policy agenda, including the composition of his cabinet and whether he intends to depart from Labour’s 2024 general election manifesto.
In his address, Burnham is expected to argue that Britain needs a “circuit-breaker” to restore public confidence in politics, saying that devolving decision-making to local communities is key to rebuilding trust and delivering more effective government.
On the economy, Burnham has indicated he will retain the fiscal rules introduced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, whom he is widely expected to replace if he becomes prime minister.
The rules require day-to-day government spending to be funded through taxation rather than borrowing, while ensuring national debt is falling as a share of GDP by the end of the current Parliament.
Speaking at a London conference last week, Reeves urged Burnham to maintain her economic strategy, describing it as one that is “beginning to bear fruit” while endorsing his plans for greater fiscal devolution.
However, several Labour MPs on the party’s left have urged him to loosen the fiscal rules to allow for increased public investment.
