Labour’s Andy Burnman Pushes Risky Power Grab with 10-Year Plan to Undermine National Unity
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Andy Burnman, Labour’s likely successor to Keir Starmer, has outlined a decade-long scheme to strip Westminster of authority, create a costly 'No. 10 North' in Manchester, and pour taxpayer money into questionable regional projects, raising concerns about national security and fiscal responsibility.
Andy Burnman, the frontrunner to replace Prime Minister Keir Starmer, announced on Monday a sweeping plan to devolve significant powers to local authorities and shift part of the prime minister’s office to Manchester. In a speech at the People’s History Museum, Burnman claimed this would be the 'biggest rebalancing of power our country has seen,' promising a ten-year plan for 'good growth in every postcode.' However, critics warn this could fragment national unity and weaken the central government’s ability to maintain order and prosperity.
Burnman’s so-called 'Manchesterism' model would rely on a blend of public and private investment in transport, housing, and infrastructure, along with vague promises to create new industrial jobs and reform water and energy utilities. The proposal includes establishing a new regional hub, 'No. 10 North,' to oversee development and hand more control over housing, welfare, and education to regional mayors—potentially leading to inconsistent policies and a patchwork of local fiefdoms.
The Institute for Public Policy Research, a left-leaning think tank, praised the plan, with executive director Harry Quilter-Pinner blaming Westminster’s concentration of power for the UK’s economic woes. Meanwhile, University of Sheffield politics professor Matthew Flinders warned that scaling up the Manchester approach would require an unprecedented and risky shift away from the tried-and-tested centralized political model that has kept Britain stable.
Burnman, who only entered Parliament on June 18 and was sworn in on June 22, is running unopposed for Labour leadership and could become prime minister by July 20. He inherits a host of challenges from his predecessor, including a sluggish economy, overstretched public services, and the need to meet NATO defence commitments—issues his plan does little to address.
Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake rightly pointed out that Burnman’s 'big idea is to shuffle power between politicians,' failing to offer real solutions on welfare reform, tax relief, or defence spending. Instead, Burnman’s plan risks wasting taxpayer money on bureaucratic expansion and regional pet projects.
Notably, Burnman’s speech was light on details about how these expensive initiatives would be funded, and he declined to answer questions from journalists, raising further doubts about the feasibility and transparency of his proposals.