Andy Burnham has blamed Brexit and Margaret Thatcher for a decade of low growth in the UK, arguing that Britain needs to be brutally honest about having taken “a series of wrong turns” in the last 40 years. In his first Commons appearance since he took over as prime minister around six weeks ago, Burnham told MPs he wanted to build a new sense of optimism so “we can make this next decade better than the last”. The British people wanted “much more substantial change” on the big issues facing the country, he said.
Britain is not where any of us would wish it to be. Things are not working as they should.” The UK economy has taken a 6% hit from the effects of Brexit, according to economists’ analysis of internal Bank of England data on thousands of British companies since the referendum a decade ago. Burnham’s first Commons appearance came as Keir Starmer, his predecessor, announced he would stand down as an MP, saying that he wanted to focus on international affairs instead, triggering a tricky first byelection test for Burnham in a London seat where the Greens will fancy their chances.
The cabinet was told on Tuesday that the government will have three key priorities: cutting costs of essentials like childcare and mortgages; the regeneration of communities; and greater public control of water, housing and energy. Burnham’s deputy, Louise Haigh, will lead taskforces on each of those issues, the Guardian understands. He told his ministers they must be “relentless” in fulfilling his priorities.
In his Commons statement, the prime minister also: Hinted that he would commit to spending 3% of GDP on defence by 2030, saying he had appointed John Healey as his chancellor “precisely because” of his position on military spending. Opened the door to looking again at electoral reform in Labour’s next manifesto. There are different views in this house, but I believe we will need to get a consensus at the next election.
And if there is that consensus, then a change can be made in the next parliament.” Announced he would attend the Cop31 climate summit in Turkey and continue pursuing green energy – but that he would be “pragmatic” on supply, amid expectations he will approve the Jackdaw gas field. The truth is, it’s going to have to be both.” Flanked by Healey and Haigh, Burnham suggested to MPs the Brexit vote had been a response to “a series of wrong turns” made by Britain in the 1980s onwards, that were then compounded by leaving the EU. The prime minister, whose Makerfield constituency voted for Brexit, has previously argued it would be a mistake to rerun the referendum – but has said that he wants the UK to rejoin in his lifetime.
He suggested the next UK-EU reset summit could take place in November. Austerity followed, hollowing out councils and depriving them of the agency to act to reverse any of this,” he said during a three-hour stint in the Commons. Change begins with honesty … Unless we are blunt about what went wrong, we won’t turn things around.
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