Summary

  • Andy Burnham will this morning make his first major policy speech since launching his bid to become prime minister

  • The Labour MP is expected to announce plans for more regional devolution, including a "No 10 North"

  • He is also expected to say the government must give "Britain the circuit-breaker it needs" and commit to a "10-year mission" to raise living standards - although he is not expected to take questions

  • The Conservatives have urged Burnham to set out his plans in the Commons, where MPs can ask questions, before the summer recess

  • Kemi Badenoch, the party's leader, is also making a speech this morning - watch live at the top of the page

  • If no other Labour MP makes a leadership bid, Burnham is expected to become prime minister on 20 July

  1. Analysis

    Private sector will be looking for more specific direction from Burnhampublished at 10:54 BST

    Faisal Islam
    Economics editor

    Burnham’s core argument will be that empowering cities and regions such as his own fast-growing Manchester has worked, and needs to be pushed wider and deeper as a go-to answer for unleashing the full economic potential of the UK.

    He will argue for a "10-year mission" to raise living standards through reindustrialisation, housing, infrastructure and reform of essential utilities - a reference to greater state control.

    Many in the private sector will be looking for more specific direction on taxation, on energy prices, and on costs of employment.

    There are some radical ideas circulating amonghis backers and from his own previous writings ranging from breaking up the Treasury to funding major transport infrastructure through taxes capturing the uplift in land values.

    It is not at all clear that he will spell out a detailed manifesto at this moment, arguing his approach is consistent with the 2024 Labour manifesto.

  2. Analysis

    Burnham's speech is expected to be part reassurance, part radicalismpublished at 10:50 BST

    Faisal Islam
    Economics editor

    Today’s hometown speech is part reassurance and part radicalism from someone on course for Downing Street in three weeks, but it will be far from his full economic story.

    It will be the first time he has addressed a national audience since his return to the Commons and the resignation of Keir Starmer.

    His backers have been reassured by the recent calm in markets despite a week of political upheaval. He will confirm a commitment to stick to existing limits on borrowing - the so-called fiscal rules.

    He will also effectively publicly endorse Alan Milburn’s ongoing review on the challenges of youth unemployment and inactivity, which backers say shows recognition of the need to tackle welfare challenges.

    There will not however be any announcement of a name for a chancellor of the exchequer in any Burnham administration. No decisions have been made.

  3. Badenoch sets out five measures she says will increase growthpublished at 10:43 BST

    Badenoch announces five things that she says will spark growth, which she describes as:

    1. Cutting the cost of energy
    2. Getting people working and cutting the welfare bill
    3. Cutting taxes
    4. Slashing regulation
    5. Championing business

    She says the Conservatives' plan is to abolish business rates "for most of the high street", scrap the "family farms tax", "scrap the family business tax", and abolish stamp duty on family homes.

    "If Britain is going to compete in a world of rapid technological change, it needs to be easy to build things here," she says.

    Badenoch continues and says she would "be happy to sit down" with Burnham to discuss her plans, and lend Conservative votes in Parliament to pass "tough legislation" that Labour backbenchers "don't have the stomach for".

  4. Badenoch warns of 'summer of chaos'published at 10:34 BST

    Kemi Badenoch speaking behind a lectern which reads stronger economy, stronger country. Four Union Jack flags hang behind her

    As we've been reporting, Badenoch is also making a speech this morning.

    She starts off by addressing Burnham, saying he is prime minister in all but name and urges him to come to Parliament to tell the country about his plans.

    She adds the country is heading for a "summer of chaos" and a harsh economic reality ahead, with public spending "spiralling out of control".

    Proposals being outlined by Burnham later today are not radical or new, but "old hat", she says.

  5. What we're expecting to hear from Burnhampublished at 10:32 BST

    In his speech later today, Burnham is expected to set out a commitment for a "10-year mission" to raise living standards and to create a "No 10 North".

    Speaking in Manchester, his vision is expected to involve mayors being given greater control over social housing, welfare and education - with power over budgets currently spent by Whitehall.

    Burnham is also expected to set out an ambition to drive growth "across every nation and region of the UK" and vow to put devolutionat the heart of his programme for government.

    He will say decision-making needs to be "pushed to regions and local communities", and will promise "good growth in every postcode".

    There will also be proposals on youth employment in order to "lift Britain back up to where it should be".

    And he is expected to say the government must "give Britain the circuit-breaker it needs", as well as address his view of why there is low public trust in politics.

  6. Badenoch to 'set out her tests' for Burnhampublished at 10:10 BST

    Kemi Badenoch, a woman, wearing yellow, with her right hand pointing towards the left.Image source, PA Media

    Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch is urging Burnham to set out his plans in the House of Commons before the summer recess in July.

    Parliament is due to rise on 16 July and Burnham is expected to become PM on 20 July if no Labour MP challenges him for the leadership.

    "A speech full of warm words to a friendly crowd is not a substitute for speaking at the despatch box where MPs can question the substance of what he has said," she says.

    She adds Burnham "should be brave enough to answer MPs representing the length and breadth of the country" on his plans.

    Tory chairman Kevin Hollinrake says Burnham's "big idea is to shuffle power between politicians.

    "Just more devolution, more committees, more process. It's the politics of distraction from a Labour Party that is deliberately avoiding the questions that actually matter," he says.

    The Conservatives say Badenoch will use her speech this morning to "set out her tests to Andy Burnham".

    She's due to start speaking shortly - you can watch live at the top of this page.

  7. Analysis

    Burnham starts to sketch out vision but faces policy questionspublished at 09:59 BST

    Chris Mason
    Political editor

    Burnham will give what his team has called "his first major leadership speech" later and will promise to "lift Britain back up to where it should be".

    In an address at the People's History Museum in Manchester, the new MP for nearby Makerfield will say as prime minister he would "give Britain the circuit breaker it needs".

    His inner circle describe it as "the foundational text" of his programme for government.

    As such, it is expected to be broad based.

    It is not thought he will take any questions from reporters afterwards, which will likely raise eyebrows from some given his lack of a mandate from the electorate.

    His team insist this won't be part of "a pattern" of avoiding scrutiny - but that will come later in the campaign.

    Three weeks from today, he could become prime minister, assuming, as is widely expected, he doesn't face a contest for the Labour leadership.

    In the next three weeks, he has to charm Labour MPs, sell his vision to the country, decide who will serve in his government and wrestle with the huge challenges that currently face Keir Starmer.

    How will he pay for our defence? What about social care? How will he manage his relationship with US President Donald Trump?

    These are three of the dozens of huge questions that confront a man who wasn't even an MP a fortnight ago.

  8. Burnham to make first major policy speech since launching leadership bidpublished at 09:54 BST

    A file photo of Andy Burnham. He is walking in front of a car with people behind himImage source, Tolga Akmen/EPA/Shutterstock

    This morning Andy Burnham will make his first major policy speech since launching his bid to be leader of the Labour party.

    His inner circle is billing it as the "the foundational text" of his programme for government.

    Burnham is almost certain set to become the UK's next prime minister, and if no other Labour MP challenges him, he is expected to take the reins in No 10 on 20 July.

    In a speech in Manchester at 11:30 BST, he is expected to announce plans for a "No 10 North" and set out a vision to give more plans to local officials, with a focus on raising living standards.

    But before then, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch will give a speech in central London - slated for 10:00 BST - where she is expected to speak about the economy.

    We'll have updates and analysis throughout.