Burnham to Become UK PM, Vows Power Devolution

Andy Burnham is set to become the UK prime minister on July 20, replacing Keir Starmer. In a speech at the People's History Museum in Manchester on June 24, 2024, Burnham outlined his vision to shift power from London to regional areas through significant devolution. He vowed 'the biggest rebalancing of power our country has seen,' aiming to establish 'No10 North' as a parallel power center outside London.

Burnham's plan focuses on 'good growth in every postcode' and delivering 'the circuit-breaker Britain needs.' He intends to give local governments control over essential utilities, skills, jobs support, and business rates. Caroline Simpson, the current chief executive of the Greater Manchester combined authority, has been asked to be his deputy chief of staff to lead this initiative.

In his speech, Burnham emphasized fiscal discipline and promised to reduce Britain’s ballooning welfare bill while committing to the government’s current borrowing limits. He set out a 10-year plan to get 'good growth in every postcode,' addressing the concentration of wealth and power in London and the south of England.

Burnham's fiscal plans may involve new tax hikes targeting wealthier families in the South. According to The Guardian, Burnham supports a property tax, increased capital gains tax, and a new 'death tax' for social care funding. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticized these economic plans as an attempt to 'bribe northern voters,' warning of a potential 'summer of chaos' due to the lack of parliamentary scrutiny before MPs return in September.

Burnham has pledged to donate 15% of his MP’s salary to local causes in his constituency of Makerfield, continuing a practice he started as mayor. While many Labour MPs are hopeful about their party’s fortunes, concerns persist that Burnham may be underprepared for government. His speech on Monday outlined a 10-year plan for economic growth but did not include a media Q&A session.

The Guardian provided additional context about Burnham's past political positions and potential future policies. As health secretary in 2009, Burnham proposed a free-at-the-point-of-use care service funded by abolishing inheritance tax and introducing a 10% levy on all estates, which was labeled a 'death tax' by Conservatives. He has indicated he wouldn't flinch from similar tax changes to fund social care now.

In a video shared on TikTok, Burnham assessed various mock-ups of 'No10 North' that featured Northern landmarks. He chose a design with the slogan 'Don't Look Back to Westminster' as his top choice. Some fellow TikTok users criticized the designs and warned against using AI-generated content.