Andy Burnham has promised to set up a ‘No 10 North’ in Manchester as the “nerve centre of a rewired Britain”, vowing to oversee what he called the biggest rebalancing of power the country has ever seen.
In his first major speech since becoming the MP for Makerfield and the near-certain next prime minister, Burnham told an audience at the People’s History Museum that the Westminster system was “broken” and that a “more of the same” approach would not improve living standards. Dressed in a dark T-shirt and jacket, he pledged the largest council housebuilding programme since the post-war period and said his government would “drive good growth in every postcode”.
“Andy Burnham promises No 10 North in Manchester as part of devolution drive, while defence chiefs warn of 'Moscow test' over spending.”
“It is time for Whitehall to accept that growth cannot be ordered from the top down – it can only be nurtured from the bottom up,” Burnham said. He argued that Whitehall had “blocked” progress in Manchester and suggested regions would see greater public control of essential services such as water, energy and transport.
The speech – unusually for a political event – did not include a question-and-answer session. Burnham acknowledged that “people can’t wait for ever for change” and hinted at early cost-of-living support, saying: “I will do my very best to deliver it, and whilst not taking risks with the public finances, will seek to give Britain some breathing space.”
The prime minister-in-waiting, who is expected to enter Downing Street on 20 July unless challenged for the Labour leadership, immediately drew criticism from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch. She said Burnham backed devolution because he “doesn’t know what to do so he wants to pass the problem to someone else”.
But a more pointed challenge came from a former military chief. Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, former Chief of the Defence Staff, told the BBC that Burnham would need a “Moscow test” for his policies, warning that the next prime minister must operate “almost like a wartime prime minister”. Radakin said the UK’s military capabilities are “too bare” and urged Burnham to fulfil the pledge to increase defence spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2035 – a commitment that Defence Secretary John Healey and Armed Forces Minister Al Carns resigned over this month, citing insufficient investment.
Burnham’s intervention on defence came as he turned down an invitation to the US Embassy’s Grand American Jubilee on Tuesday night – a party celebrating the 250th anniversary of American independence. A spokesperson cited a “scheduling clash”. US President Donald Trump had earlier dismissed Burnham as the former “mayor of a town” and labelled him “extremely liberal”.
Despite the external pressures, Burnham’s speech was met with relief among Labour MPs. Former health secretary Wes Streeting tweeted “Finally some hope again.” Sarah Champion, chair of the international development committee, told The Independent: “It was exactly what I needed to hear as it will benefit towns like Rotherham enormously.”
Burnham will now have to navigate the competing demands of his devolution agenda and the hard realities of global threats – with the NATO summit in Turkey on 7 July looming as the first major test of his premiership.