The British prime minister, Andy Burnham, invoked this Tuesday in Parliament his experience as mayor of Manchester to defend the decentralisation of power in the United Kingdom and greater intervention in public services. Burnham stated that he will apply to all regions of the country the growth theory he developed in Greater Manchester, a region he transformed into the fastest-growing urban area in the United Kingdom.
Burnham promised a long-term plan with measures for stronger public control over essential services such as transport, making them work again for the benefit of people and local communities. Among the policies announced is the launch of the largest municipal housing construction programme since the post-war period, empowering local authorities to revitalise their regions.
On his first trip abroad as British leader, Burnham visited Kyiv last month to underline support for Ukraine. The United Kingdom is under pressure to increase military spending in response to the challenges from Russia and the Donald Trump administration, in order to meet NATO's target of 3.5% of gross domestic product by 2035. Burnham hinted that Defence investment will increase, but left the details for the budget, to be presented on 28 October.
The opposition has questioned various measures, such as the creation of a second prime minister's office in Manchester to boost the strategy of granting more powers to local leaders. Burnham was also forced to alter plans to release some criminals early, following appeals from the widow of a police officer who died in a hit-and-run incident.
