Burnham promises more devolution and public control of essential services
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced plans to increase public control over essential services, criticizing the privatization trends since the 1980s. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch challenged the move, arguing it represents excessive government intervention and higher taxes.
Why it matters
This marks a significant shift in UK governance strategy, signaling a potential move away from decades of privatization toward state-led service management.
Image source, House of Commons By Kate Whannel Political reporter Published 42 minutes ago 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".
She said her party, by contrast, wanted people to "keep more of their own money".
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