STORY
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has used his first appearance in the House of Commons since entering Downing Street to promise economic renewal, greater regional power and measures to ease pressure on household finances. Addressing MPs as Parliament returned from its summer recess, Burnham said his Government wanted to restore optimism and improve opportunities across the country.
Burnham argued that political centralisation, privatisation and deindustrialisation had contributed to Britain’s economic difficulties, with Brexit adding to a prolonged period of weak growth. He said greater public control of water, energy and transport could support growth, while the proposed No 10 North office in Manchester would help transfer powers away from Westminster.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch rejected Burnham’s economic analysis and accused him of returning to policies associated with the 1970s. The Prime Minister also reaffirmed British support for Ukraine, committed the Government to meeting its climate obligations and acknowledged that further decisions would be needed on defence spending and North Sea energy production.