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'Andy Burnhams vision is intoxicating - and, boy, does the country need it'

'Its when hope meets reality that well really know if the PM-in-waitings vision will translate into better lives for tens of millions of households'

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Graham Hiscott Business and Consumer Editor

15:59, 29 Jun 2026Updated 21:03, 29 Jun 2026

[Devolution was key theme of Andy Burnham's Manchester speech - but will take time to deliver ]

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Devolution was key theme of Andy Burnham's Manchester speech - but will take time to deliver (Image: Getty Images)

Andy Burnhams vision of hope was intoxicating - delivered with a message of hope thats been sorely lacking since even before Labour swept to power. Too many people are just fed-up with the status quo so, boy, is an air of positivity needed.

But its when hope meets reality that well really know if the PM-in-waitings vision will translate into better lives for tens of millions of households.

And hope has been in short supply, not only now, but stretching back until at least the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. Its one of the reasons why were in the political mess we are.

The King of the Norths speech was a bold set of aims for what Burnhamomics could bring, with growth in every postcode at its heart.

[Andy Burnham said he wanted the country to focus on young people 'who want something different' to university]

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Andy Burnham said he wanted the country to focus on young people 'who want something different' to university(Image: AP Photo/Alastair Grant)

Most people might well be sceptical - whod blame them after so many years of political fatigue - as they worry instead about battling to make ends meet.

While Mr Burnham held back on detailed policies, we learnt much about how he wants life to change for millions of hard working people.

Key is turning the system of government on its head by using devolution to hand far more control - politically and economically - to local authorities rather than being dictated to by Whitehall.

We got a taste of what that could mean with Mr Burnham's devolution of employment support which, he claimed, could bring down the overall welfare bill, something that the government will be judged on. Another crowd pleaser was his pledge for No10 North to forge the biggest council house building programme since the post-war era. A third was greater public control of utilities, from water and energy to transport, with the aim of bringing down household bills. That notably falls short of the public ownership of water, in particular, that campaigners have been demanding.

[MP for Makerfield, Andy Burnham, delivers a speech at The People's Museum ]

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Burnham has pledged to turn around high streets across the UK(Image: Getty Images)

None of the things on Mr Burnhams wish list will be quick or easy to achieve. But economists Ive spoken to say devolution, along with reforming everything from the tax system and planning to social care on a local level could be enough to trigger the long overdue economic growth that will finally bring about improved living standards.

And people need to see that happen in their local area, not just with big infrastructure projects. That means regenerating high streets, as Mr Burnham has promised, and using the public sector pound to back British business. It also means the things that matter to peoples every day, like potholes.

The other big unanswered question is who he will appoint as Chancellor, assuming Rachel Reeves gets the chop. Heavy briefing has suggested Ed Miliband is the frontrunner, although he is something of a Marmite choice, not least because of his net zero crusade as energy secretary which has split opinion among unions, the business world and reportedly in the cabinet too. Supporters say his many years of experience make him ideally suited to driving home the reforms Mr Burnham is championing, although his appointment could unnerve financial markets.

Other options seen as perhaps more palatable include Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden or former Health Secretary Wes Streeting, although both are closely wedded to Sir Keir Starmer so may not be considered as radical enough of a change to bring about the big shift in direction under a new PM.

The worry is that much of this will take time: something that governments dont have the luxury of when it comes to bringing about change. Mr Burnham talked about a 10 year plan, much as Sir Keir Starmer did, and we all know whats happened there.

We stand as a country at a crossroads, or should that be another one after so many false dawns. One route leads to a further fall in living standards between now and the next general election.

The other is where hope translates into meaningful change for people in every part of the country. Should Mr Burnham become PM, much will be made of his first 100 days in power, which would take us to around the time of an autumn Budget.

By then, all being well, we will finally know which route the country could be heading in the make-or-break years ahead.

[Graham Hiscott]

Graham Hiscott

Graham is the Daily Mirror's Business and Consumer Editor, covering everything that goes on in the world of business and finance, from banks to energy companies, food firms to oil giants, as well as personal finance, but always with a focus on what it means to you, whether that's customers, workers or society in general.

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