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Andy Burnham to Outline Devolution Plans in Manchester Speech Without Taking Questions
Andy Burnham will deliver his first major leadership speech on Monday at the People's History Museum in Manchester. He plans to promise greater power for politicians outside Westminster and public control of energy, water and transport. The address comes three weeks before he could become prime minister.
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Andy Burnham will give his first major leadership speech on Monday morning at the People's History Museum in Manchester, BBC News reported. " His team describes the address as the foundational text of his programme for government. Central to the plans is handing more power to politicians beyond Westminster in what his team claims would be the biggest transfer of power out of Whitehall in modern times.
A flagship proposal is the creation of a "No10 North" unit based in Manchester to drive devolution and good growth in every postcode of the UK. Burnham will also talk of his desire for public control of energy, water and transport. He is not expected to take questions from reporters after the speech.
His team states that avoiding questions will not form part of a pattern of avoiding scrutiny. Kevin Hollinrake, Chairman of the Conservative Party, said Burnham's big idea is to shuffle power between politicians rather than fix the welfare system, cut taxes or fund defence.
"It's the politics of distraction from a Labour Party that is deliberately avoiding the questions that actually matter," Hollinrake said.
Burnham's team say he will continue to work out cabinet appointments after the speech. A central dilemma is whether to appoint Energy Secretary Ed Miliband as chancellor. Ed Miliband, a former Treasury aide, beat his brother David, a former foreign secretary, to the Labour leadership in 2010.
David Miliband later moved to the US and became president of the International Rescue Committee. Burnham faces an extraordinary three weeks ahead. Three weeks from now he could become prime minister, assuming he does not face a contest for the Labour leadership.
