David Skaith welcomes Andy Burnham’s devolution plans

David Skaith welcomed former Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham setting out his plans to transfer more power out of Whitehall should he become prime minister.

Mr Burnham, who could become prime minister on July 20 if he is the only contender to replace Sir Keir Starmer, said he will lead a decade-long plan to transform Britain by devolving power to give regions the ability to control essential utilities, transport and housing.

The prospective prime minister promised to set a “new direction” for the UK, with an outpost of 10 Downing Street based in Manchester to drive his plans to rewire the British state.

David Skaith shakes hands with Andy Burnham as he arrives to deliver a speech at the People’s History Museum, Manchester, on Monday (June 29) (Image: Peter Byrne/PA Wire)

Mr Skaith said Mr Burnham’s plan “sets out the ambition and scale of change people have been calling for”.

“It’s a vision built on hope. One that puts trust, backed by investment, in the people who know their communities best to tackle the huge challenges we face. That can only be a good thing.

“What Andy has achieved in Manchester, despite resistance from Whitehall, is incredible. We can do the same here in York and North Yorkshire if we’re given the trust, powers, investment and confidence that Andy set out today.”

In his first major speech since Sir Keir announced he would be leaving Downing Street, Mr Burnham promised to give people hope for the future.

Andy Burnham delivers a speech at the People’s History Museum, Manchester, on Monday (June 29) (Image: Peter Byrne/PA Wire)

The Makerfield MP, who gave up being mayor of Greater Manchester to return to Parliament in a by-election earlier this month, said the Westminster system was “broken” and “as a result, the country isn’t where it should be”.

He said the No 10 North operation would be the “nerve centre of a rewired Britain”, redistributing power and resources across the UK.

It would, Mr Burnham said, oversee the “biggest council house building programme since the post war period”.

He also announced plans for regions to take “greater public control of essential services” including water, energy and transport.

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The proposals would bring about the “biggest rebalancing of power our country has seen”, Mr Burnham said as he promised to overcome Whitehall’s resistance to change.

“Let me say this very directly: the days of Whitehall fighting the devolution of power into the regions and nations are over for good.”

In an attempt to reassure the markets that he would not hike borrowing and taxes to pay for his plans, Mr Burnham promised his measures would be based on “the stability that comes from sound public finances” and “the discipline of our current fiscal rules”.

But he acknowledged that taxpayer-funded support would be needed to deal with the cost-of-living pressures facing households.

Promising to support reindustrialisation across the UK’s regions, he said Whitehall would be ordered to back British firms bidding for public contracts – even if this costs taxpayers more.