Burnham Vows Stronger Public Control of Essential Services
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has promised to set out plans for 'stronger public control' of essential services in his first address to the House of Commons since taking office. Speaking during the first day of the new parliamentary session, Mr Burnham said "a series of wrong turns" since the 1980s had seen economic power in the UK privatised, pointing to the water industry as "a leaking monument to that approach - a country run in the private rather than public interest."
The prime minister did not mention Thames Water by name, but the troubled utility, which serves London and much of the surrounding region, is seen as the leading candidate for more direct government control. Mr Burnham said he would produce a detailed plan for greater public control of water and energy "later in the year."
A 'Clear Diagnosis' of Britain's Problems
Mr Burnham, who became prime minister on 20 July, said he was returning to Parliament with a "clear diagnosis" of what had gone wrong in the country. "From the 1980s, this country took a series of wrong turns," he said. "Political power was centralised, economic power privatised, the country deindustrialised, austerity followed, hollowing out councils and depriving them of the agency to act to reverse any of this. And then Brexit compounded the damage, ushering in a decade of low growth."
He acknowledged that "Britain is not where we would wish it to be", but promised to "build a new sense of optimism around the country."
Devolution at the Forefront
The prime minister announced that devolution powers would be made available to more areas in England, drawing on his experience as the former mayor of Greater Manchester. "My time as mayor gave me a clear theory of growth" through devolution, he said.
On the stalled Cornwall devolution talks, Mr Burnham said his government would work with the council on a deal "with or without an elected mayor." He also expressed interest in "a local model of devolution" in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Some MPs have raised concerns about a potential two-tier system emerging between areas with and without mayors.
Domestic and Political Reforms
Mr Burnham also addressed housing and political reform. He suggested that providing more council homes to bring down rent would be the "Labour way" of reducing the benefits bill, and he committed to introducing legislation to move from leasehold to commonhold ownership.
On the voting system, the prime minister said he would look at it but would not introduce changes before the next general election.
He also paid tribute to Sir Keir Starmer, who recently announced he would step down as an MP, saying the former leader had "given this country a lifetime of public service." Mr Burnham said he had chosen John Healey as chancellor because of his "commitment to defence." Healey had resigned as defence secretary earlier this year, accusing Sir Keir of failing to commit resources.
Reaction from the Opposition
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused the prime minister of offering "more government control, more taxes and more politicians."
"His diagnosis is completely wrong, his theory of growth is completely wrong, he thinks that if government spends more money, we will all get richer - that is not how this works," she said. Badenoch also warned Mr Burnham that his new job would be "very different" from his mayoral role in Greater Manchester, where he "did not have to make difficult trade-offs."
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called for "fundamental change" of the political system.