Burnham Outlines Vision for 'Rewired Britain'
Andy Burnham has pledged the 'biggest transfer of power out of Whitehall in modern times' as he set out his vision to lead the country in the wake of Keir Starmer’s resignation. In his first major speech since stepping forward as a prospective PM, the former Greater Manchester mayor promised a 'new direction' for a country he said is 'stuck in a rut', vowing to end 'politics as usual' and rebuild trust in Government.
Mr Burnham said he would create a 'No 10 North', which he described as the 'nerve centre of a rewired Britain', as part of sweeping plans to devolve power away from Westminster and closer to communities. Addressing concerns from voters following years of political and economic turbulence, he said: “What hope can we have that it will be different this time? That is the question I would be asking if I were a voter right now. It is the one I want to answer as clearly as I can today.”
Decades of Decline and a Broken System
He added that the UK is seeking a fresh path after '10 years of political turbulence since Brexit and 20 years of falling living standards since the 2008 financial crash'. The Makerfield MP, who recently returned to Parliament after stepping down as mayor, said the current political system is no longer delivering for the public.
“Westminster has not been working for people and it has not been working for a very long time. In fact, it is broken,” he said. “And as a result, the country isn’t where it should be. It is stuck in a rut, and clearly we can’t go on like this.”
A Call for Unity and Coalition
Mr Burnham also signalled a more collaborative approach to politics, saying he would 'reach out to other parties' in what he described as a 'fragmented, disjointed' Westminster. He pledged to build the 'broadest possible coalition' to unite the country and restore confidence in leadership.
His proposals centre on a major expansion of devolution, aiming to shift decision-making powers away from central government and into regional and local hands, reports PA. He argued that this would help revitalise communities, improve public services and rebalance the economy.
The speech marks a significant moment in the contest to shape the UK’s political direction following Mr Starmer’s departure, with Mr Burnham positioning himself as a candidate focused on reform, unity and long-term change.
