Andy Burnham is on course to become the UK's next prime minister as soon as 20 July 2026, after Sir Keir Starmer announced he was stepping down. The former Greater Manchester mayor is the only Labour MP standing to replace him, after potential rivals stood aside. His campaign has centred on a promise to shift power away from Whitehall and give more control to English regions, a vision he calls the biggest-ever "rebalancing of power" in the UK.
Burnham, who returned to Parliament in 2026 after nearly a decade away, has outlined a few key policies. Central is a new No 10 unit based in Manchester that would hand English regions more control over housing and transport. He also wants to extend existing devolution settlements in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland by taking power "deeper down," and ensure "equivalent living conditions" across Britain, borrowing from the German constitution. Government departments would support local councils and regional strategic authorities with staffing and resources.
“Andy Burnham's policies on devolution and utilities explained”
On utilities, Burnham wants to enable all parts of the UK to take "greater public control" of water and energy sectors, with 10-year plans to reduce costs. He points to Greater Manchester's bus network as a model: private operators bid for franchises, while local authorities control fares, timetables and routes. However, he has not spelled out what this would mean for water and energy in practice, and has stressed it does not necessarily mean full nationalisation—a move that would cost billions. One exception is Thames Water, where direct public ownership is already on the cards after the government objected to a rescue deal in June.
Burnham has said he will not seek the same international profile as Starmer, who he thinks spent too much time abroad. But national security is a prime minister's first job, and he faces immediate decisions on attending the UN General Assembly in September and the COP climate summit in Turkey in November. His team will weigh whether skipping these events cedes ground to the Greens or Lib Dems on climate.
Critics warn of tensions. Some northern MPs worry that "Manchesterism" overlooks the North East. Devolution is hard work, and Labour has a tendency to throw out more policies than it can deliver. Lord O'Neill, a markets-hardened adviser, notes that the world keeps turning, and Burnham must not appear hostile to wealthy investors—a weakness of Starmer's. With only three years before the next election, Burnham will be judged mercilessly on delivery.
Q: What is Andy Burnham's plan for devolution? He wants to create a new No 10 unit in Manchester to give English regions control over housing and transport, extend devolution in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and ensure "equivalent living conditions" across Britain by supporting local councils and regional authorities with staffing and resources.
Q: What does Burnham want to do with water and energy companies? He wants to enable "greater public control" of the sectors, using 10-year plans to reduce costs. He has not ruled out full nationalisation but says it is not necessary; instead, he favours a franchise model like Greater Manchester's buses, where private operators run services under public control of fares and routes.
Q: Why might Burnham's plans be controversial? Some northern MPs fear the focus on Manchester will leave other regions behind. Devolution also carries risks of inefficiency, and Burnham has only three years to show results. Additionally, his "soft left" economics may deter wealthy investors, a perception his team must address.
What happens next Burnham could enter Downing Street on 20 July 2026. His first major decisions will include the Budget, his approach to the UN General Assembly and COP, and how quickly he can implement his devolution plans.
