It’s hard to say yet whether this is a permanent recalibration or even a substantial one, but the arrival of new Prime Minister Andy Burnham has moved the country’s focus northward. A former mayor of Manchester — Britain’s second or third city depending on how you count it — Burnham has put devolution at the heart of his narrative, promising a “smaller and strategic” central state. It may sound prosaic but he sees romance in local government.
His origin story saw him win national power only by first escaping Westminster, a gambit that helps him connect with the common people in a way that other mainstream politicians can’t. It’s all very Game of Thrones. Burnham’s nickname was “King of the North” during his near decade running Greater Manchester.
The ruler he usurped, Labour Party colleague Keir Starmer, lacked an inspiring vision and couldn’t explain why he wanted power. Burnham’s mission is clearer: Devolution will deliver growth by letting communities fuel local economies. Decentralization will finally address the problem (if you see it as one) of an overmighty London.
The U.K.’s capital generates more than 23% of its gross domestic product and acts as the nation’s political, financial, cultural and transport nexus. Its productivity is far greater than other regions.
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