Burnham's decade-long plan

ANDY Burnham has said he will lead a decade-long plan to transform Britain by transferring power out of Whitehall and giving regions the ability to control essential utilities, transport and housing.

- PRESS ASSOCIATION REPORTERS

The prospective Prime Minister yesterday promised to set a “new direction” for the UK, with an outpost of 10 Downing Street based in Manchester to drive his plans to rewire the British state.

In his first major speech since Sir Keir Starmer announced he would be leaving Downing Street, Mr Burnham promised to give people hope for the future.

The Labour MP for Makerfield, who gave up being mayor of Greater Manchester to return to Parliament in a by-election earlier this month, said the Westminster system was “broken” and “as a result, the country isn’t where it should be.” He added: “It’s stuck in a rut, and clearly we can’t go on like this.”

Mr Burnham, who could become Prime Minister on July 20 if he is the only contender to replace Sir Keir as Labour leader, said:

The ‘Number 10 North’ operation would be the “nerve centre of a rewired Britain”, redistributing power and resources across the UK.