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

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

Andy Burnham’s first speech since returning to Westminster politics laid out how he would govern if he, as is expected, becomes Keir Starmer’s successor in Downing Street.

His choice of location – the People’s History Museum in Manchester – was telling, and the former industrial site’s history bled into the speech as the new Makerfield MP spoke about Labour as a grassroots, people’s movement, built on working class aspiration and fixing the basics of British life.

He was back in what he called his “Manchester clothes” – no suit and tie, but a black t-shirt and a blazer – and had packed the front row of the hall with his former regional mayor colleagues.

This was Mr Burnham resolutely in his comfort zone, speaking passionately and authentically about the need to bring hope and power back to this part of the country – themes which were central in his agenda as mayor of Greater Manchester.

Those in the hall, whether regional mayors of Northern MPs, agreed with a speech with outlined how a No 10 North and increased devolution would allow for “good growth” in areas of the country which have long felt forgotten about.

While there is no doubt that Mr Burnham’s “Manchesterism”, particularly shifting at least part of the heart of government to Manchester as a “nerve centre” for his radical devolution plans would be welcomed by many outside the M25, this was Burnham at his most assured and comfortable, hitting his favoured topics surrounded by allies, all on the same page as him.

He finished speaking, to a rapturous applause, he was whisked away to a readied car by his friend and close ally Liverpool city region mayor Steve Rotheram, without taking media questions, which will further arguments he is avoiding scrutiny from the press as he aims for the highest office in the land.

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

“I know people can’t wait forever for change,” he said as he outlined plans for reindustrialisation, reforms to business rates, housing and education.

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

“No 10 North will be able to support all places to turn around those towns, their high streets, and the local centers, increasing footfall on the high street and protecting more green spaces from development.

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

No 10 North will oversee the biggest council house building program since the post war period, Andy Burnham has announced.

Mr Burnham said: “Britain has lost almost one and a half million 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 forced to chase rents in the private rented sector through the benefits system.”

His call for more council housing received a huge applause as he called for council housing to be built using vacant public land to reduce costs.

Whitehall Editor Kate Devlin reports:

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

To cheers as he gave a speech in the city on his vision for government, he stressed the office would “only be based here. The job of No 10 North will be to make power flow into the Midlands, into the South West, into the East of England, and yes, into London… as (it is) into the North East, Yorkshire and the Humber, and here in the North West.”

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

He pledged it would be the “nerve centre” of a rewired nation, “it will be the conduit through which we redistribute power and resources.”

He also announced it would be given a mission “to strive for equivalent living conditions in all parts of Britain”.

And he warned “the days of Whitehall fighting” the devolution of power from the centre are “over for good”.

Andy Burnham has called on an end to education pushing people solely towards university as an approach to address the NEET crisis where almost a million 16-24 year olds are not in education, employment or training.

“I take very seriously the findings of the recent report by Alan Milburn. We need a complete rethink of how we support the next generation to succeed, and it has to start with the education system. The days of a school system configured entirely around the university route will be brought to an end.”

Political correspondent Millie Cooke reports:

Andy Burnham has said his plan for government will be the “biggest change in our lifetimes to the way the country is ruled” – but insisted it will be within the bounds of Labour’s 2024 general election manifesto.

He said: “The change will be the biggest change in our lifetimes to the way the country is ruled, and it is consistent with the 2024 manifesto.

“We will create a more streamlined state with a clearer purpose. I’ll do the biggest change in our lifetimes, all parts of the country, and with a laser-like focus on growth and regeneration, good growth. The change will be driven through the prime minister’s office in an extended operation based here in Manchester.”

Senior reporter Dan Haygarth reports live from Manchester:

It’s maybe no surprise that this very Northern crowd is very pleased as Andy Burnham confirms that the prime minster’s office would be extended to Manchester – ‘the nerve centre of a rewired Britain’, he describes it as, to another round of applause.

Political editor David Maddox reports:

Andy Burnham has sent a message to the markets that he wants to be radical but will not be borrowing more to fund it.

In his speech he pledged to stick to “the discipline of our current fiscal rules.”

That means sticking to Rachel Reeves’ borrowing rules and to maintain economic stability.

That should see off a damaging run on the gilt markets which would push up he cost of borrowing.

Expanding on his idea of “good growth in every British postcode”, Andy Burnham has pledged that even London will have more powers over its education and housing.

“What a sea of change that would be in the way UK government thinks about our own country, places no longer forgotten or written off as they have been in the past, but supported to make the best of their assets, seeing the positives in all places, and there are positives in all places in all postcodes across this United Kingdom.

“Let’s always remember that the powers for our rural economies to address issues specific to them, like inadequate transport powers for areas undergoing industrial transition, like Port Talbot, Scunthorpe, and Aberdeen powers for our proud coastal towns to reimagine themselves for the twenty first century.

“And yes, more powers for London too, over education and housing, so that London can do more for itself and remain the world’s greatest capital city, and you heard that here from Manchester.”

Senior reporter Dan Haygarth reports live from Manchester:

A loud applause as Andy Burnham lays out what Manchesterism would mean, namely rejecting trickle down economics, moving power into the nations and regions and giving metro mayors more autonomy.

“I think I even saw the mayor of Liverpool clap”, Mr Burnham says about the reaction to Manchesterism – acknowledging the rivalry between the two North West cities.