Andy Burnham announces radical decentralisation of power and bids for Starmer succession

A central element of his speech was the announcement of the largest redistribution of political power the United Kingdom has ever experienced. "Wir brauchen eine neue Entschlossenheit, um den Lebensstandard jedes einzelnen Menschen in diesem Land zu verbessern", said Burnham. He wanted to place power "in die Hände der Menschen und Regionen, die diese am besten nutzen können".

In sharp words, the experienced Labour politician described Westminster as "kaputt" and the United Kingdom as "in einer Sackgasse". "Um es ganz deutlich zu sagen: Die Zeiten, in denen Whitehall gegen die Dezentralisierung der Macht an die Regionen und Länder gekämpft hat, sind endgültig vorbei", he declared. The plan is to give local councils and regional mayors significantly more decision-making powers.

Education and social housing

Specifically, Burnham proposed moving parts of the government apparatus from Downing Street to a new headquarters called "Number 10 North" in northern English Manchester. This was intended to make visible that political responsibility would in future no longer be concentrated solely in London.

In the education sector, he announced the end of a school system oriented exclusively towards the path to university. "Die Zeiten eines Schulsystems, das ausschließlich auf den Weg zur Universität ausgerichtet ist, werden ein Ende finden", he said. In future, the parity of academic and vocational education was to be strengthened and more internship and apprenticeship places created.

In addition, Burnham promised "das größte Programm zum Bau von Sozialwohnungen seit der Nachkriegszeit". He pointed to the ongoing housing crisis in Great Britain as an example of pressing social challenges. He also announced a comprehensive reform of corporate tax to revitalise the so-called High Streets with their pubs and retailers.

Economy and federal structures

In terms of economic policy, Burnham emphasised that politics now had to be changed "um die Wirtschaft und das Land wieder auf Kurs zu bringen". In "jeder Postleitzahl" there should be growth in future. His vision thus combines federal structural reforms with concrete investment commitments.

The speech followed the resignation of Keir Starmer, who had announced his resignation in the past week in view of the lack of support also within his own party. Burnham thus appeared in public with his first major policy appearance exactly one week after Starmer's departure.

Outlook for July

Observers interpret the appearance as a clear signal to the Labour Party and the public that Burnham is seeking the succession as party leader and thus as Prime Minister. Should he remain without rival candidates, the path to the top of government would be clear as early as mid-July.

With his decentralisation agenda, Burnham is taking up a long-discussed structural problem of the United Kingdom: the strong centralisation of political and economic decisions in London. His plans go beyond symbolic gestures and specifically envisage the relocation of government functions to Manchester as well as far-reaching expansions of powers for regions and municipalities.