Summary

  • Andy Burnham says if he becomes prime minister, he'll "take power out of the centre" and expand his office to Manchester - other key takeaways

  • In his first major speech since launching his bid to replace Keir Starmer, Burnham says "No 10 North" would be the "nerve centre of a re-wired Britain"

  • The former Greater Manchester mayor also commits to "offering new opportunities to extend devolution in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland by taking power deeper down" - but does not give more detail

  • No 10 North will "mean very little to the people of Wales", says the Welsh first minister, while the SNP's Westminster leader says there's "nothing of substance" in Burnham's proposals

  • Burnham's idea of "Manchesterism" was at the centre of this speech - but many of the key details are still to come, writes the BBC's Chris Mason

  • If no other Labour MP makes a leadership bid, Burnham is expected to become prime minister on 20 July

  1. 'No 10 North will be the nerve centre of a rewired Britain'published at 12:08 BST

    A close up picture shows Andy Burnham holding his glasses during his speechImage source, PA Media

    Burnham says the job of his so called "No 10 North" will be to make power flow into different regions across the UK.

    "No 10 North will be the nerve centre of a rewired Britain," he says.

    It will be the "conduit" through which power and resources are redistributed across the UK, he adds.

    He adds "No 10 North" will be given a mission to deliver equivalent living conditions in all parts of Britain and make place-based collaboration the "new operating principle".

  2. Burnham says plans will be backed by stability of 'sound public finances'published at 12:07 BST

    Burnham says his pledges will be backed from the stability of "sound public finances" and the discipline of the current fiscal rules, adding that this promises "a new era of possibility for Britain".

    He says this will be the biggest change in our lifetimes in how the country is run, but it will remain consistent with Labour's 2024 manifesto.

    The former mayor says he will create a streamlined state with clear purpose, powering up all parts of the country with a "laser-like focus on growth and regeneration".

    He adds this change will be driven through the prime minister's office "in an extended operation based here in Manchester".

  3. Manchesterism is 'rejection of the old trickle down model'published at 12:06 BST

    Andy Burnham holds his finger up as he speaks in ManchesterImage source, Reuters

    "Manchesterism," Burnham says, "is a vision for good growth and a rejection of the old trickle down model".

    Burnham says all parts of the UK "should be given the chance to develop their own version of the same".

    "Good growth in every British post code," he says, and "places no longer forgotten or written off like they have in the past."

    He continues and adds there should be "powers for rural economies" to address issues specific to them like "inadequate transport".

    And Burnham says there should also be more powers for areas undergoing industrial transition and proud coastal towns, along with more powers for London "over education and housing".

  4. Analysis

    'No 10 North' sounds like a substantial part of the civil service, rather than just handful of staffpublished at 12:04 BST

    Henry Zeffman
    Chief political correspondent

    Andy Burnham stands on a stage and speaks to politicians, activists and journalists sat on chairs in front of himImage source, PA Media

    It’s little surprise that Andy Burnham chose to give his first speech as the presumptive prime minister in Manchester. His speech began with affectionate reminiscences about the past nine years he has spent as the combined authority mayor.

    It’s also little surprise that in announcing that he wants to move a major part of the prime minister’s office out of London, he has chosen Manchester. This new "No 10 North" sounds like a really substantial part of the civil service, rather than just a handful of staff.

    Burnham has been at pains to describe his vision of "Manchesterism" as a blueprint for other areas, praising the "positives in all places and all postcodes" in the UK, vowing to help rural areas and boost coastal communities.

    And London, he said, is the world’s greatest capital city.

    That may have been a response to the sprinkling of unease - no stronger than that - that is already being expressed by some of the many Labour MPs who represent seats in London and the south-east of England about Burnham’s strong association with the north-west.

    I was speaking to a minister earlier who said it is crucial for Labour’s electoral fortunes that Burnham’s condemnation of the Westminster system is not perceived as a broader condemnation of the capital city itself.

  5. Burnham vows 'biggest rebalancing of power our country has seen'published at 12:03 BST

    Andy Burnham delivers a speech at the People's History Museum. Several lights can be seen in front of Burnham as he delivers his speechImage source, PA Media

    Burnham vows to bring about the "biggest rebalancing of power our country has seen".

    He adds that Whitehall must accept "growth cannot be ordered from top down" but must instead be ordered from the "bottom up".

    This must include giving businesses "stability and confidence" to invest, committing to "decent" infrastructure in all parts of the UK and providing security for a good home and good employment, he says.

  6. No adverse reaction in the markets as Burnham speakspublished at 12:02 BST

    Simon Jack
    Business editor

    Despite an early mention of former Labour left wing leader Michael Foot, Andy Burnham's reference to his economic model being based on "sound finances" and "the discipline of our fiscal rules" have seen no adverse reaction - in fact a small positive one measured by the cost of government borrowing - to Burnham's vision for, in his words, "the biggest rebalancing of power our country has seen".

  7. Imbalance of resources between local and national government is holding back growth - Burnhampublished at 12:00 BST

    The former Greater Manchester mayor says a greater sense of unity in Parliament will allow a "clearer sense of direction" to be given to Whitehall.

    He says mayors will have felt frustration in recent years at departments constantly pushing back at their "legitimate requests".

    Burnham adds that a stark imbalance in resources between national and local government is "holding back growth", describing local government as "threadbare" since the pandemic.

    He says this is not just bad for councils and the areas they serve, but everywhere.

  8. Burnham says the political direction he'll set is 'not up for negotiation'published at 11:58 BST

    Andy Burnham speaks in front of two microphonesImage source, Reuters

    Burnham says it's "too hard" for politicians - including MPs in attendance - to make change.

    "Because power is not in the hands of those places they represent. But held by an insufficiently accountable outsourced state."

    He adds "we are one of the most over centralised countries", and that the "over-centralised part of the country is not pulling in the same way but in different directions".

    He says he will "work hard" to "change that culture" - letting MPs "be authentic representatives", and involve "more people in the work of government".

    Burnham says the political direction he will set is "not up for negotiation", but that he will "build an inclusive team at the very highest level".

  9. Westminster and Whitehall require 'radical change'published at 11:54 BST

    Andy Burnham raises his finger as he makes a speech in ManchesterImage source, GB News pool

    Burnham says he knows change can be achieved because "it has been done" in Manchester.

    He adds as mayor, he put "place first, not party first", focused on "problem solving and not point scoring" and "long term, not short term".

    Burnham adds those same principles need to be applied now to politics as a whole.

    He adds Westminster and Whitehall are set up for conflict and require "radical change", saying he left government after realising it wasn't working for the north-west of England.

  10. Analysis

    Burnham gives critique of the way politics works in Westminsterpublished at 11:51 BST

    Henry Zeffman
    Chief political correspondent

    Andy Burnham stands at a lectern as he makes a speech in ManchesterImage source, GB news pool

    This was billed as an economy speech, and it is.

    But mixed in with Andy Burnham’s initial focus on living standards is something broader - a critique of the way that politics works in Westminster, which he describes as "broken".

    Burnham criticises the "finger-pointing" of our political system, which he says was "dangerous" and "destructive of what remains of public trust in politics".

    He is calling for a "more collaborative politics". That’s one of the arguments he is making for devolving power to local politicians across England.

    He will make the economic case for that devolution too, but it is striking that he has started with a political and cultural case for it.

  11. UK needs new determination to raise living standards - Burnhampublished at 11:49 BST

    Andy Burnham speaks during a speech in Manchester. He is wearing a suit with a yellow badge with a bee on itImage source, PA Media

    Burnham goes on to say the UK needs a new "determination" to raise living standards, adding: "We need to change politics and we need to do it now."

    "I am going to do things differently," he says.

    He adds he is going to break with "more of the same" by building a more collaborative approach to politics in Westminster.

    "I am going to give Britain the circuit breaker it needs."

  12. 'Westminster hasn't been working for people'published at 11:47 BST

    Andy Burnham stands at a lectern as he makes a speech in Manchester. Several rows of people watching can be seen in the front of the photo.Image source, PA Media

    Burnham says the time has come "to build the broadest possible coalition of people" to build Britain back up "to where we want it to be".

    He says the question he wants to answer clearly today is: "What hope can we have that it will be different this time?"

    "After 10 years of political turbulence since Brexit" and 20 years "of falling living standards" since the financial crash, "Westminster hasn't been working for people, and it hasn't been working for a very long time", he says.

    He adds: "My generation of politicians, including me, must take responsibility - we haven't been good enough."

  13. Burnham asks: 'Are you ready for this?'published at 11:42 BST

    Andy Burnham smiles as he speaks during a speech in ManchesterImage source, PA Media

    Andy Burnham takes to the stage to a large round of applause, and asks the crowd: "Are you ready for this?"

    He thanks people for their support and, speaking in Manchester, says "I will never forget what this place did for me", adding "it's been such a wrench to leave".

  14. Burnham begins speechpublished at 11:36 BST

    Andy Burnham has started speaking in Manchester.

    We'll have updates throughout - and you can watch live at the top of the page.

    Burnham giving speech
  15. BBC Verify

    What powers are already devolved in the UK?published at 11:29 BST

    By Anthony Reuben

    Andy Burnham’s team have said the "central proposal" of his speech today will be "the biggest transfer of power out of Whitehall in modern times".

    That’s setting the bar very high.

    For example, the Scottish Parliament is in charge of things like the nation’s education, health, justice and policing and also has power to vary some taxes, including income tax.

    The Welsh Senedd also has significant powers, although it has less power over tax, justice and welfare than its Scottish counterpart.

    The Northern Ireland Assembly has greater powers over employment and social security than either Scotland or Wales, but less power over taxation.

    The powers of all three have varied since they were created in the late 1990s, but if Burnham is going to outstrip even the levels of powers they each started with, that will be an enormous upheaval.

  16. Northern Powerhouse Partnership welcomes 'No 10 North' ideapublished at 11:16 BST

    A man with short black hair and glasses is wearing a navy blue suit with a navy tie and white shirt. He is sitting on the red sofa of the BBC Breakfast studio.

    Burnham is expected to announce plans to move part of his operation, if he becomes PM as expected, to the North of England, in what's being billed as a "No 10 North".

    Henri Murison, chief executive of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership - which was set up under Conservative Chancellor George Osborne to support economic development - told BBC Breakfast earlier this morning it is "good news for the whole country" if advisers and civil servants are "based outside the Whitehall machine".

    "I think it's in the interests of everyone who wants our economies to thrive to have the best available people working in an environment where they can think outside the box," he said.

    Murison said most of the country's power "still sits in Whitehall" and moving civil servants out of London has had a "positive cultural influence".

    He added "there is talent" in the North of England and ministers or civil servants based there will have access to people "with real knowledge and capability" who wouldn't be available in London.

  17. Analysis

    Private sector will be looking for more specific direction from Burnhampublished at 10:54 BST

    Faisal Islam
    Economics editor

    Burnham’s core argument will be that empowering cities and regions such as his own fast-growing Manchester has worked, and needs to be pushed wider and deeper as a go-to answer for unleashing the full economic potential of the UK.

    He will argue for a "10-year mission" to raise living standards through reindustrialisation, housing, infrastructure and reform of essential utilities - a reference to greater state control.

    Many in the private sector will be looking for more specific direction on taxation, on energy prices, and on costs of employment.

    There are some radical ideas circulating among his backers and from his own previous writings ranging from breaking up the Treasury to funding major transport infrastructure through taxes capturing the uplift in land values.

    It is not at all clear that he will spell out a detailed manifesto at this moment, arguing his approach is consistent with the 2024 Labour manifesto.

  18. Analysis

    Burnham's speech is expected to be part reassurance, part radicalismpublished at 10:50 BST

    Faisal Islam
    Economics editor

    Today’s hometown speech is part reassurance and part radicalism from someone on course for Downing Street in three weeks, but it will be far from his full economic story.

    It will be the first time he has addressed a national audience since his return to the Commons and the resignation of Keir Starmer.

    His backers have been reassured by the recent calm in markets despite a week of political upheaval. He will confirm a commitment to stick to existing limits on borrowing - the so-called fiscal rules.

    He will also effectively publicly endorse Alan Milburn’s ongoing review on the challenges of youth unemployment and inactivity, which backers say shows recognition of the need to tackle welfare challenges.

    There will not however be any announcement of a name for a chancellor of the exchequer in any Burnham administration. No decisions have been made.

  19. Badenoch sets out five measures she says will increase growthpublished at 10:43 BST

    Badenoch announces five things that she says will spark growth, which she describes as:

    1. Cutting the cost of energy
    2. Getting people working and cutting the welfare bill
    3. Cutting taxes
    4. Slashing regulation
    5. Championing business

    She says the Conservatives' plan is to abolish business rates "for most of the high street", scrap the "family farms tax", "scrap the family business tax", and abolish stamp duty on family homes.

    "If Britain is going to compete in a world of rapid technological change, it needs to be easy to build things here," she says.

    Badenoch continues and says she would "be happy to sit down" with Burnham to discuss her plans, and lend Conservative votes in Parliament to pass "tough legislation" that Labour backbenchers "don't have the stomach for".

  20. Badenoch warns of 'summer of chaos'published at 10:34 BST

    Kemi Badenoch speaking behind a lectern which reads stronger economy, stronger country. Four Union Jack flags hang behind her

    As we've been reporting, Badenoch is also making a speech this morning.

    She starts off by addressing Burnham, saying he is prime minister in all but name and urges him to come to Parliament to tell the country about his plans.

    She adds the country is heading for a "summer of chaos" and a harsh economic reality ahead, with public spending "spiralling out of control".

    Proposals being outlined by Burnham later today are not radical or new, but "old hat", she says.