Labour lawmaker Andy Burnham outlined a state-led economic vision expanding public control over services such as water and boosting regional growth outside London, in his first speech in Manchester on Monday since returning to Westminster earlier in June.
He said his plans are consistent with the party's 2024 manifesto reiterating his commitment to a series of fiscal rules. These include balancing day-to-day spending with tax revenues and reducing debt as a share of output - closely watched by financial markets.
He said the welfare system should be reformed in a way that supports long-term independence.
“We will reduce the welfare bill in a way that is fair and lasting and helps people move forward,” he said, stressing that reforms should not penalise those in need.
He also said one route to reducing welfare spending would be repairing the public housing stock, linking social policy with infrastructure improvement.
He said his plan for change "whilst not taking risks with the public finances, will seek to give Britain some breathing space."
Andy Burnham repeated his argument for stronger oversight of essential services, including water, saying greater public control is needed to improve accountability and outcomes.
He also said the state should “intervene more directly in the economy where needed,” adding that it should not “leave everything to the market.”
His wider economic approach includes supporting regional growth through “good growth funds” aimed at expanding opportunity beyond London and reducing regional inequality.
He described the agenda as a “new era of possibility for Britain,” while maintaining alignment with Labour’s 2024 manifesto commitments.
He also emphasised a “laser-like focus on growth and regeneration” aimed at “powering up all parts of the country.”
Andy Burnham is currently the only declared candidate to potentially replace Keir Starmer as UK prime minister, with speculation that a transition could take place within weeks.
He added that senior appointments, including the finance minister role, would not be announced until the leadership process is complete.
He also said governance would be driven through the prime minister’s office, operating in what he described as an “extended operation based here in Manchester.”
U.S. forces struck two Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island on Sunday, with Tehran responding by launching ballistic missiles at two U.S. bases...
Eurasian leaders have gathered in Bishkek for a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit focused on security, economic ties and regional...
Russia views NATO’s growing military activity in the Arctic as a direct threat to its national security, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said....
Iran has reached an understanding with Oman on transit arrangements through the Strait of Hormuz, but the waterway will remain closed until the U.S. fulfils its commitments, a senior Iranian diplomat said on Saturday.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused U.S. government and Israel-aligned actors of manipulating energy markets to promote the war with Iran.
Russian strikes on the Kyiv region overnight killed 37 people, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said. Zelenskyy added that the Ukrainian capital was under "virtually nonstop attack" from drones.
Eurasian leaders have gathered in Bishkek for a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit focused on security, economic ties and regional co-operation, as the bloc marks its 25th anniversary. China's Xi Jinping also hailed the “unprecedented” development in China-Kyrgyzstan relations.
At least 37 people were killed after a Russian drone strike hit an ammunition depot in the Kyiv region, triggering powerful secondary explosions President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday, vowing to punish suspected negligence in the second such incident in two months.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned the actions of Israeli settlers in the West Bank village of Qusra, saying security operations should be handled only by state institutions, including the army and police.
Rescue teams in Nepal, supported by Chinese and Indian experts, worked through the night to reach hundreds of people believed to be trapped inside blocked hydropower project tunnels following last week’s catastrophic Himalayan flood.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 31st of August, covering the latest developments.
Around 20 people are reported missing after flooding struck parts of Grand Canyon National Park in the U.S. state of Arizona, prompting evacuations of people to safety and a large-scale response from park authorities.
Russia views NATO’s growing military activity in the Arctic as a direct threat to its national security, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment