Summary

  • Andy Burnham is making his first major policy speech since launching his bid to become prime minister - watch live at the top of the page

  • He says he will "give Britain the circuit breaker it needs" by building a "more collaborative politics in Westminster" and "taking power out of the centre"

  • Criticising "Whitehall culture", he says there is an imbalance in resources between national and local governments, and promises "the biggest re-balancing the country has seen"

  • While national government has got bigger, he says, local government is "threadbare", adding: "The whole country suffers when regions and nations are not meeting their potential"

  • Earlier, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch urged Burnham to come to Parliament to face scrutiny - adding that his plans seem to be "old hat"

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

  1. Westminster and Whitehall require 'radical change'published at 11:54 BST

    Andy Burnham raises his finger as he makes a speech in ManchesterImage source, GB News pool

    Burnham says he knows change can be achieved because "it has been done" in Manchester.

    He adds as mayor, he put "place first, not party first", focused on "problem solving and not point scoring" and "long term, not short term".

    Burnham adds those same principles need to be applied now to politics as a whole.

    He adds Westminster and Whitehall are set up for conflict and require "radical change", saying he left government after realising it wasn't working for the north-west of England.

  2. Analysis

    Burnham gives critique of the way politics works in Westminsterpublished at 11:51 BST

    Henry Zeffman
    Chief political correspondent

    Andy Burnham stands at a lectern as he makes a speech in ManchesterImage source, GB news pool

    This was billed as an economy speech, and it is.

    But mixed in with Andy Burnham’s initial focus on living standards is something broader - a critique of the way that politics works in Westminster, which he describes as "broken".

    Burnham criticises the "finger-pointing" of our political system, which he says was "dangerous" and "destructive of what remains of public trust in politics".

    He is calling for a "more collaborative politics". That’s one of the arguments he is making for devolving power to local politicians across England.

    He will make the economic case for that devolution too, but it is striking that he has started with a political and cultural case for it.

  3. UK needs new determination to raise living standards - Burnhampublished at 11:49 BST

    Andy Burnham speaks during a speech in Manchester. He is wearing a suit with a yellow badge with a bee on itImage source, PA Media

    Burnham goes on to say the UK needs a new "determination" to raise living standards, adding: "We need to change politics and we need to do it now."

    "I am going to do things differently," he says.

    He adds he is going to break with "more of the same" by building a more collaborative approach to politics in Westminster.

    "I am going to give Britain the circuit breaker it needs."

  4. 'Westminster hasn't been working for people'published at 11:47 BST

    Andy Burnham stands at a lectern as he makes a speech in Manchester. Several rows of people watching can be seen in the front of the photo.Image source, PA Media

    Burnham says the time has come "to build the broadest possible coalition of people" to build Britain back up "to where we want it to be".

    He says the question he wants to answer clearly today is: "What hope can we have that it will be different this time?"

    "After 10 years of political turbulence since Brexit" and 20 years "of falling living standards" since the financial crash, "Westminster hasn't been working for people, and it hasn't been working for a very long time", he says.

    He adds: "My generation of politicians, including me, must take responsibility - we haven't been good enough."

  5. Burnham asks: 'Are you ready for this?'published at 11:42 BST

    Andy Burnham smiles as he speaks during a speech in ManchesterImage source, PA Media

    Andy Burnham takes to the stage to a large round of applause, and asks the crowd: "Are you ready for this?"

    He thanks people for their support and, speaking in Manchester, says "I will never forget what this place did for me", adding "it's been such a wrench to leave".

  6. Burnham begins speechpublished at 11:36 BST

    Andy Burnham has started speaking in Manchester.

    We'll have updates throughout - and you can watch live at the top of the page.

    Burnham giving speech
  7. BBC Verify

    What powers are already devolved in the UK?published at 11:29 BST

    By Anthony Reuben

    Andy Burnham’s team have said the "central proposal" of his speech today will be "the biggest transfer of power out of Whitehall in modern times".

    That’s setting the bar very high.

    For example, the Scottish Parliament is in charge of things like the nation’s education, health, justice and policing and also has power to vary some taxes, including income tax.

    The Welsh Senedd also has significant powers, although it has less power over tax, justice and welfare than its Scottish counterpart.

    The Northern Ireland Assembly has greater powers over employment and social security than either Scotland or Wales, but less power over taxation.

    The powers of all three have varied since they were created in the late 1990s, but if Burnham is going to outstrip even the levels of powers they each started with, that will be an enormous upheaval.

  8. Northern Powerhouse Partnership welcomes 'No 10 North' ideapublished at 11:16 BST

    A man with short black hair and glasses is wearing a navy blue suit with a navy tie and white shirt. He is sitting on the red sofa of the BBC Breakfast studio.

    Burnham is expected to announce plans to move part of his operation, if he becomes PM as expected, to the North of England, in what's being billed as a "No 10 North".

    Henri Murison, chief executive of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership - which was set up under Conservative Chancellor George Osborne to support economic development - told BBC Breakfast earlier this morning it is "good news for the whole country" if advisers and civil servants are "based outside the Whitehall machine".

    "I think it's in the interests of everyone who wants our economies to thrive to have the best available people working in an environment where they can think outside the box," he said.

    Murison said most of the country's power "still sits in Whitehall" and moving civil servants out of London has had a "positive cultural influence".

    He added "there is talent" in the North of England and ministers or civil servants based there will have access to people "with real knowledge and capability" who wouldn't be available in London.

  9. 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.

  10. 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.

  11. 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".

  12. 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.

  13. 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.

  14. 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.

  15. 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.

  16. 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.