With pressure building over how he would steer fiscal policy, Andy Burnham is putting decentralisation at the centre of his plan to revive the UK economy. The prime minister-in-waiting says shifting power away from Westminster would support local growth, alongside council house building and lower business rates on the high street.
Highlights
- Andy Burnham announces a 'Number 10 North' in Manchester to coordinate government and spearhead devolution away from Westminster as a central economic policy.
- His agenda includes a major council house building programme and a promise to cut business rates to stimulate growth across all UK regions.
- Markets scrutinize Burnham’s policies for potential higher public spending and tax increases, with investors concerned over a possible leftward shift impacting fiscal confidence.
Devolution plan and policy priorities
As first reported by Financial Times, Burnham says he will pursue what he calls the biggest rebalancing of power in UK history, making a shift away from Westminster a central part of his economic programme.In his first speech since becoming prime minister-in-waiting this month, he announces plans for a "Number 10 North" in Manchester to co-ordinate government at national and local level. Burnham says the northern outpost of Downing Street would act as the conduit for redistributing power and resources across the UK.
His wider speech on Monday also includes a pledge for a major council house building programme and a promise to cut business rates on the high street. He says devolving powers over issues specific to local areas is a route to delivering what he describes as good growth in every British postcode.
Market scrutiny and political implications
Burnham, the former mayor of Greater Manchester, is under pressure to draw a clear distinction from Sir Keir Starmer's premiership while preserving the confidence of bond markets.His policy agenda is coming under closer examination, with observers noting similarities between his push to decentralise power and invest in less prosperous regions, Starmer's approach, and Boris Johnson's levelling-up agenda. Investors remain wary that a Burnham administration may move toward higher public spending and tax increases in a leftward policy shift.
In our earlier article on Andy Burnham’s devolution-led growth plan, we outlined his proposal to shift power away from Whitehall, including creating a “Number 10 North” in Manchester to coordinate policy and regional renewal. We also noted the political risks flagged inside Labour, with concerns that a Manchester-centred governing style could alienate voters in other regions, while investors and opponents scrutinise how his agenda would be funded.
Latest UK News
-
Afghanistan
-
Albania
-
Algeria
-
Angola
-
Argentina
-
Armenia
-
Australia
-
Austria
-
Azerbaijan
-
Bahamas
-
Bahrain
-
Bangladesh
-
Belarus
-
Belgium
-
Bolivia
-
Botswana
-
Brazil
-
Brunei
-
Bulgaria
-
Cambodia
-
Cameroon
-
Canada
-
Chile
-
China
-
Colombia
-
Congo
-
Costa Rica
-
Cote d'Ivoire
-
Croatia
-
Cuba
-
Cyprus
-
Czechia
-
DR Congo
-
Denmark
-
Dominican Republic
-
Ecuador
-
Egypt
-
El Salvador
-
Estonia
-
Eswatini
-
Ethiopia
-
Finland
-
France
-
Georgia
-
Germany
-
Ghana
-
Greece
-
Haiti
-
Hong Kong
-
Hungary
-
India
-
Indonesia
-
Iran, Islamic republic
-
Iraq
-
Ireland
-
Israel
-
Italy
-
Jamaica
-
Japan
-
Jordan
-
Kazakhstan
-
Kenya
-
Korea
-
Kuwait
-
Kyrgyzstan
-
Laos
-
Latvia
-
Lebanon
-
Lesotho
-
Libya
-
Lithuania
-
Luxembourg
-
Madagascar
-
Malaysia
-
Malta
-
Mauritius
-
Mexico
-
Moldova
-
Mongolia
-
Montenegro
-
Morocco
-
Mozambique
-
Myanmar
-
Namibia
-
Nepal
-
Netherlands
-
New Zealand
-
Nigeria
-
North Macedonia
-
Norway
-
Oman
-
Pakistan
-
Palestine
-
Panama
-
Papua New Guinea
-
Paraguay
-
Peru
-
Philippines
-
Poland
-
Portugal
-
Puerto Rico
-
Qatar
-
Reunion
-
Romania
-
Rwanda
-
Saudi Arabia
-
Serbia
-
Singapore
-
Slovakia
-
Slovenia
-
Somalia
-
South Africa
-
Spain
-
Sri Lanka
-
Sweden
-
Switzerland
-
Syria
-
Taiwan
-
Tajikistan
-
Tanzania
-
Thailand
-
Trinidad and Tobago
-
Tunisia
-
Turkey
-
UAE
-
Uganda
-
Ukraine
-
United Kingdom
-
United States
-
Uruguay
-
Uzbekistan
-
Venezuela
-
Vietnam
-
Yemen
-
Zambia
-
Zimbabwe
- Forex
- Crypto
