For Burnham, optimism must be backed up with delivery
Ryan Sheppard • UK • 3 minute read
Image: Number 10 / Flickr
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For the first time in my life, if an election were held tomorrow, my cross would go in the Labour box, and it is all because of one man: Andy Burnham. The combination of his record of delivery and vision for the country have inspired great hope. But by the time of the next election, the public has got to be feeling the change they have been crying out for, or the ills of populism will grip our system, a grave consequence for decades of centre ground failure.
It is no secret that Burnham wants to be a Prime Minister focused on domestic issues, a contrast to his predecessor Sir Keir Starmer, whose 49 foreign trips in 24 months earned him the nickname of ‘Never Here Keir’. Indeed, much of Burnham’s first few weeks as Prime Minister have been focused on measures to alleviate financial pressures on families and businesses, with Burnham stating his desire to lead a government focused on the issue of the cost of living. In his first week in office, Burnham announced several measures aimed at giving “breathing space” to those struggling most with the ongoing fiscal situation.
I am optimistic about what Burnhamism could for Britain, but the proof will be in the pudding
First, Burnham announced that VAT on domestic electricity bills will be cut from October, saving the average household around £45 a year. 32,000 hospitality businesses will benefit from another of Burnham’s easy-win opening week measures – a 20% cut in business rates for pubs, clubs, and live music venues. Annually, this measure will save the average pub £1,100, with the hope that the measure will help stop the flow of pub closures, which has equated to four a day. Policies like these, in isolation, will have limited impact, but the intention is that cumulatively they will help those most in need. Namely, those struggling to make ends meet and those businesses that have taken a hammering with the double whammy of rising costs due to global market pressures (as well as more economically tight-fisted consumers).
However, the most important measure of that first-week blitz was Burnham’s decision to reintroduce the £2 bus fare cap, a policy he maintained in Greater Manchester even when the cap was increased to £3 nationally. I am sure many of you rely on public transport as I do, and that two pounds each way really does add up. Over a week, that’s a tenner saved. It is also a targeted measure as those on lower incomes tend to rely on public transport more. It is also hoped that this measure will have a knock-on effect: because it becomes cheaper for people to go out, they are more inclined to do so and thus they will spend in the economy. One cannot understate how important and how much of an effect this measure will have, and we ought to be delighted that Burnham has carried over this policy nationwide.
Image: Suzi Kim / Unsplash
Before wrapping, we need to consider a few final points on the areas of welfare and defence, two of the most pressing issues in Andy Burnham’s in-tray. On welfare, Burnham must show he is serious about tackling the ballooning welfare bill. The ministry cannot repeat the shambolic performance of Starmer’s government, watering down the bill on the floor of the Commons to the point that said reforms were futile. The only way for Labour to preserve the welfare system it so proudly created is for it to be both sustainable and its integrity untarnished.
On defence, the UK must achieve its 3% target for defence spending by 2030. Concerningly, and despite resigning as Defence Secretary in May over the issue, committing to the aforementioned 3% target on spending is not expected to be in John Healey’s first budget. But, defence spending in the long-term could pay for itself. Not only fiscally, but in terms of Britain’s standing in the world and for our security in an era where we can be less reliant on America. Economically, we can look at Poland for the benefits of investing in defence. Poland has recently experienced something of an economic miracle. Instead of being victims of its circumstances, as neighbours of war-torn Ukraine and Russian exclave Kaliningrad, its investment in strengthening its national security (spending 4% of its GDP on defence) has seen its economy grow by 3.6% in the last year, double the EU average. It has also jumped ahead of Sweden and Belgium to become the EU’s sixth-largest economy. If we invest in our defence wisely and follow Poland’s example, we could start to generate the economic growth that our country is in desperate need of after years of stagnation. We should not see investing in our defence as a cost; we should see it as an opportunity amid the evil of this turbulent age.
I end this piece as I started it. I am optimistic about what Burnhamism could do for Britain, but the proof will be in the pudding. Delivery is the only metric that matters. Burnham is right – he is the ‘last chance’ for change, or it will be the turn of the populists, a deeply concerning prospect.
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•Published: 05/09/26
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