Five takeaways from Burnham's Commons debut as PM
Prime Minister Andy Burnham made his debut in the House of Commons, outlining his vision for economic growth through increased devolution of power. He also addressed concerns regarding the government's defense spending targets, which are expected to be clarified in the upcoming spring budget.
Why it matters
This marks a significant shift in UK governance strategy, prioritizing regional autonomy to stimulate the economy while managing critical national security budget pressures.
Image source, PA Media By Ewan Somerville Political reporter Published 1 hour ago Andy Burnham has taken questions from MPs in the House of Commons for the first time since taking over as prime minister.
The statement on his future plans for power comes six weeks after he took over from Sir Keir Starmer in July, just before Parliament's summer recess.
Here are the main points from what he said.
Burnham told MPs his time as mayor of Greater Manchester had given him a "clear theory of growth" that further devolution of power away from Westminster would help boost the UK's economic prospects.
But he said he wanted to avoid a "two-tier England" - where areas that have already been given greater powers pull away from those that have not.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in