Andy Burnham to pledge ‘good growth in every postcode’ in devolution plan

Andy Burnham is to give a speech in Manchester on Monday in which he will set out his case to become the UK’s next prime minister. Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian View image in fullscreen Andy Burnham is to give a speech in Manchester on Monday in which he will set out his case to become the UK’s next prime minister. Photograph: Christopher Thomond/The Guardian Andy Burnham to pledge ‘good growth in every postcode’ in devolution plan Makerfield MP on course to be PM will argue for more decision-making in regions and communities as he sets out platform for government Andy Burnham will pledge to deliver “good growth in every postcode” by overseeing a significant transfer of power out of Whitehall to local communities as he sets out his case to become the UK’s next prime minister. In his first major speech since winning the Makerfield byelection, Burnham will argue for decision-making to be devolved to regions and communities to drive economic growth locally, replacing the current top-down national model. The former Greater Manchester mayor is understood to be considering handing local authorities some powers over taxes, including business rates, after Rachel Reeves acknowledged she had “unfinished business” on fiscal devolution . With Burnham on course to take over from Keir Starmer as prime minister in just three weeks’ time, he will begin to set out his platform for government in his speech, saying he will “lift Britain back up to where it should be”. Many Labour MPs are more hopeful about their party’s fortunes than they have been for months. Nevertheless, some remain concerned that Burnham is “underprepared” for government and anxious about the direction he will take the country. They will watch closely for any hint of whom he might pick as his chancellor – with Ed Miliband still thought to be the frontrunner, although other names are in the frame – and whether he will do more to reassure the markets. Lucy Powell, Labour’s deputy leader and a close Burnham ally, fuelled further speculation on Sunday when she suggested that Miliband would be “good” at running the Treasury, although she said such conjecture was “distracting” from getting on with running the country. View image in fullscreen Lucy Powell, the deputy Labour leader and a close Burnham ally, has suggested that Ed Miliband would be ‘good’ at running the Treasury. Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images In his speech in Manchester on Monday, Burnham is expected to explain how he would “give Britain the circuit-breaker it needs” when he makes it to Downing Street, with what he describes as the biggest transfer of power out of Whitehall in modern times. The UK has some of the worst regional inequality of any developed country, which he argues is in part because political power is highly centralised in London, although he is expected to say that his plans will make the whole country better off. His proposals would appear to be a national version of his “Makerfield test”,