Burnham promises more devolution and public control of essential services

Key Points:

• Prime Minister Andy Burnham pledged to increase public control over essential services, including water and energy, and announced plans to extend devolution powers to more areas across England.
• Burnham criticized the centralization of political power and privatization since the 1980s, blaming these policies and Brexit for economic decline and stalled regeneration in the UK.
• He emphasized his belief in regional devolution as a driver of economic growth, citing his experience as Greater Manchester mayor, and promised to work with regions like Cornwall on tailored devolution deals, even without elected mayors.
• Burnham also outlined plans to address welfare by increasing council housing to reduce rent costs and proposed legislation to simplify the transition from leasehold to commonhold homeownership.
• Opposition leaders criticized Burnham's approach, with Conservative Kemi Badenoch warning against increased government control and taxes, while Liberal Democrat Sir Ed Davey called for fundamental political reform; Burnham said he would review the voting system but make no changes before the next election.