Andy Burnham has called for stronger state intervention in the economy, pushing back firmly against Tony Blair’s blueprint for Labour’s future direction.
The Greater Manchester mayor acknowledged some areas of agreement with the three-time election winner, particularly on the importance of economic growth as a priority for the country.
However, Burnham accused Blair of a “gaping omission” in failing to address stagnant living standards that have persisted since the 2008 financial crisis.
Writing in The Times, Burnham distanced himself from Blair’s approach on globalisation and “leaving things to the market,” while defending his own record as mayor of Greater Manchester.
He pointed to Manchester seeing higher growth than other areas across the country as evidence that his more interventionist approach could work at a national level.
Burnham also argued that reducing welfare spending would require sweeping changes to what he called “flawed thinking on education,” citing an over-reliance on exam results over technical education pathways.
He further called on the government to overhaul procurement “around the principle of place and maximum devolution of power out of the Whitehall silos into the regions and nations.”
One of his central criticisms targeted Westminster’s “point-scoring,” and in a separate interview with The Observer he backed a proportional representation system to foster policy agreements between parties.
He wrote in The Times: “Greater Manchester has pioneered this approach by being more pragmatic than political — answering one of Tony’s key concerns.”
“We have built a pro-business approach and a new political culture that could be part of the forward plan for the country, a more collaborative politics in Westminster creating a stable platform for some of the long-term structural changes the country needs.”
It was reported that Blair had grown frustrated with Burnham’s complaints that the UK had suffered from “40 years of neoliberalism,” given his own New Labour premiership spanned part of that period.
Burnham stood firm, writing: “The Labour government in which I was proud to serve did many great things. It did not, however, take us off the direction set by Thatcher.”
He added: “Acceptance of the deregulation and privatisation of essential services is the same for the cost of living crisis. This has given us 40 years of neoliberalism and the simple truth is this: it has not been kind to communities in Makerfield and those like them across the UK.”
Burnham initially criticised Blair’s written piece for failing to mention inequality, with Blair’s assessment having also targeted Labour’s welfare spending, North Sea oil policy and response to stopping small boats.
Sir Keir Starmer told broadcasters that he did not agree with Blair’s assessment, adding he had been “vindicated” by the results of his government’s policies.