Burnham promises new era of growth, devolution and public ownership

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham outlined his economic growth agenda in Parliament, promising greater devolution, public ownership and regional investment. Blaming Conservative policies and Brexit for prolonged economic stagnation, Burnham pledged to restore optimism while maintaining Britain’s support for Ukraine

London: Andy Burnham pledged a “clear, coherent and credible approach” to unleashing economic growth for the UK in his first statement to Parliament on Tuesday as British Prime Minister. Burnham, who took over the reins at 10 Downing Street from Keir Starmer six weeks ago, took questions from members of Parliament in the House of Commons as it reconvened after the summer recess.

He highlighted his tour of all parts of the United Kingdom during that period, which he claimed has helped him deliver a “clear diagnosis of what has gone wrong” due to the Opposition Conservative policies.

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“From the 1980s, this country took a series of wrong turns. Political power was centralised. Economic power was privatised. The country deindustrialised. Austerity followed, hollowing out councils and depriving them of the agency to act to reverse any of this,” said Burnham.

“Six weeks ago, when I stood outside Downing Street, I said that Britain needs a circuit-breaker after a decade of turbulence, negativity and divisive politics. This is what I have outlined today. “A clear, coherent and credible approach to growth that can unlock a feeling of positivity and possibility in every postcode in Britain,” he said.

Burnham said he wanted to “build a sense of optimism” and vowed to make the “next decade better than the last”. “We can let Britain believe again. We can bring back hope,” he concluded.

Burnham reiterated his key leadership policy focus on devolution and committed to move civil servants out of Whitehall and across the country under his No. 10 North base in his home city of Manchester. He also said that the Labour government led by him will be “relentless” in pushing for more public ownership.

“The government I lead will be relentless in giving people and places what they were promised 10 years ago, ownership and control, and from that control over their destiny comes change and growth,” said Burnham.

The UK PM also blamed the Brexit vote in June 2016, which led to Britain’s exit from the European Union (EU) economic bloc, for a decade of sluggish economic growth in Britain. “Brexit compounded the damage, ushering in a decade of low growth and stalled regeneration… Unless we are blunt about what went wrong, we won’t turn things around,” he said.

Burnham opened his statement by paying tribute to his predecessor, Keir Starmer, for a “lifetime of public service”. Earlier, Starmer announced his decision to step away from frontline politics altogether by resigning as a member of Parliament for Holborn and St Pancras in London.

Burnham stressed that the previous Labour leadership’s stance in the Russia-Ukraine conflict is “one which I will not change, whatever the threats we face”. “We do not seek escalation, but will instead stand firm in providing what help we can to enable Ukraine to defend itself,” he said.