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Burnham pledges more devolution, public control of essential services
Developing
In the months before becoming prime minister, Andy Burnham stopped short of calling for full nationalisation but said he wanted to see greater public control of water and energy. He reiterated his belief that political power had been centralised and announced he would be making devolution powers available to more areas in England.
The prime minister said "a series of wrong turns" since the 1980s had seen economic power in the UK privatised and pointed to the water industry as "a leaking monument to that approach - a country run in the private rather than public interest".
Five takeaways from Andy Burnham's Commons debut as PM Andy Burnham said his time as Greater Manchester mayor had given him "a clear theory of growth", namely that devolving powers to regions outside London would boost their economy.
Asked by Kemi Badenoch about defence spending, Andy Burnham said he had specifically chosen John Healey to be his chancellor because of his "commitment to defence". Pressed on his plans for the water sector by Conservative MP Alison Griffiths, Andy Burnham said it was important to "look at all possible solutions".
Following his 10 years away from Parliament, Andy Burnham said he was returning with a "clear diagnosis" of what had gone wrong in the country. Andy Burnham said he would look at the voting system but would not introduce any changes before the next general election.
He also said he was interested in exploring "a local model of devolution" in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Shortly before Andy Burnham's speech to Parliament, Sir Keir Starmer said in a surprise announcement that he would be stepping down as an MP, less than two months after he quit as prime minister.
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What's still developing
- The prime minister said "a series of wrong turns" since the 1980s had seen economic power in the UK privatised and pointed to the water industry as "a leaking monument to that approach - a country run in the private…
- He reiterated his belief that political power had been centralised and announced he would be making devolution powers available to more areas in England.
- Following his 10 years away from Parliament, Andy Burnham said he was returning with a "clear diagnosis" of what had gone wrong in the country.
- In the months before becoming prime minister, Andy Burnham stopped short of calling for full nationalisation but said he wanted to see greater public control of water and energy.
- Pressed on his plans for the water sector by Conservative MP Alison Griffiths, Andy Burnham said it was important to "look at all possible solutions".
- Five takeaways from Andy Burnham's Commons debut as PM Andy Burnham said his time as Greater Manchester mayor had given him "a clear theory of growth", namely that devolving powers to regions outside London would…
- He also said he was interested in exploring "a local model of devolution" in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
- Shortly before Andy Burnham's speech to Parliament, Sir Keir Starmer said in a surprise announcement that he would be stepping down as an MP, less than two months after he quit as prime minister.
Sources
- BBClink