Andy Burnham promises more devolution and public control of essential services - BBC
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has outlined plans to increase public control over essential services, criticizing the privatization trends since the 1980s. The proposal includes expanding devolution powers to more areas in England, a move met with criticism from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch.
Why it matters
This signals a major shift in UK domestic policy toward re-nationalization and decentralization, sparking a significant ideological debate between the government and the opposition.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google Kate Whannel Political reporter Watch: Key moments from Burnham's first Commons speech as PM Andy Burnham has promised to set out plans for "stronger public control" of essential services as he addressed the House of Commons for the first time since taking power.
The prime minister said "a series of wrong turns" since the 1980s had seen economic power in the UK privatised and pointed to the water industry as "a leaking monument to that approach - a country run in the private rather than public interest".
He reiterated his belief that political power had been centralised and announced he would be making devolution powers available to more areas in England.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused Burnham of offering "more government control, more taxes and more politicians".
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