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Andy Burnham has announced a plan to redistribute power within the United Kingdom, emphasizing decentralization as a core part of his vision to “power up” all regions. The former mayor of Greater Manchester, currently the Makerfield MP, is widely anticipated to become the next prime minister, succeeding Sir Keir Starmer, provided no other Labour candidates come forward before the leadership vote. Burnham promises what he terms “the biggest change in our lifetime to the way the country is run,” aiming to reduce the influence of devolved parliaments by channeling more authority directly to local communities.
In a recent speech, Burnham expressed his desire to overhaul the current political structure by creating a more streamlined state apparatus that empowers every part of the UK equally. He explained that the initiative includes extending devolution further, not only preserving but deepening powers in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. According to him, citizens in places like Dundee and Bangor often feel disconnected both from their devolved governments in Holyrood and the Senedd and from Westminster itself, highlighting the need for governance closer to local people.
A key element of Burnham’s proposal is the establishment of a “Number 10 North” office based in Manchester, symbolizing a shift away from the heavily centralized Westminster system, which he described as “broken.” He called for radical reforms to ensure politics better serves the everyday lives of people wherever they live, signaling an end to Whitehall’s historic resistance to devolving power into nations and regions.
While Scotland already enjoys significant devolved powers—covering health, education, transport, taxation, and benefits—Burnham suggests that more localized control is necessary, particularly advocating for the decentralization of power away from the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood. He specifically mentioned reforms in employment support, proposing that regional grassroots organizations be given greater control to tailor services according to the unique needs of different Scottish communities.
The response from political figures in Scotland varied, with SNP Westminster Leader Dave Doogan criticizing Burnham’s proposals as empty promises that fail to address core issues, maintaining that they retain the most harmful Westminster policies such as Brexit, austerity, and Tory spending rules. Doogan asserted that the SNP’s long-standing calls for meaningful devolution remain unmet in Burnham’s plans, offering no substantial improvements for people in Scotland.
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay urged Burnham to provide more detailed plans regarding the new powers proposed, while also expressing concerns over further powers being granted to the SNP government, citing what he called their “astonishing record of failure.” He suggested that continuing to extend devolution is unlikely to appease the SNP or improve governance.
Meanwhile, Scottish Green spokesperson Kristopher Leask described Burnham’s speech as heavy on rhetoric but lacking in policy specifics. Leask noted that the speech seemed primarily aimed at English regions, with Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland treated as secondary considerations—summarizing the overall impression that the UK remains too centralized, but with federal ambitions primarily focused on England’s sub-national areas rather than on the devolved nations
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