Andy Burnham Calls for National Embrace of 'Manchesterism' to Heal Britain
In a powerful critique of the nation's political trajectory, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has positioned the region's economic and governance model as a vital blueprint for the entire United Kingdom. He argues that the country remains shackled by the legacy of 1980s deindustrialisation, privatisation, and subsequent austerity, compounded by Brexit.
The 'Four Horsemen' of Britain's Decline
Burnham identifies what he terms the "four horsemen of Britain's apocalypse": deindustrialisation, privatisation, austerity, and Brexit. He contends that these forces, championed by the political right, have systematically broken the country's economic foundations and social fabric.
"The combined effects of austerity and Brexit in the 2010s laid bare structural weaknesses," Burnham states. "Our cities and towns were hollowed out and the country has been trapped ever since in a low-growth doom loop."
He directly challenges the narrative of newer political forces like Reform UK, suggesting that by embracing former Conservative figures, they reveal themselves as merely a continuation of Thatcherite ideology with a modern, populist edge. This, he argues, presents a critical opportunity for the left to seize the initiative and clearly articulate who is responsible for the nation's challenges.
Manchester's Devolution-Led Revival
In stark contrast to national dysfunction, Burnham points to Greater Manchester's decade of progress under devolution. The region has cultivated a collaborative political culture that stands as the "polar opposite of the Westminster and Whitehall world."
This approach has yielded tangible results:
- The region's economy is growing at double the UK average rate.
- Public control has been retaken over bus services.
- A tipping point is nearing where more council and social homes will be built than are lost through Right to Buy.
- Plans are advanced to reindustrialise through five global economic clusters.
"We are taking a long-term approach to rebuilding an economy devastated by the deindustrialisation of the Thatcher era," Burnham emphasises.
'Manchesterism' as a National Model
Burnham defines "Manchesterism" as a functional, modern response to the high-inequality, low-growth trap created by 1980s policies. It combines devolved political power with strategic public investment to roll back the worst excesses of privatisation and centralisation.
Key to this model is creating new educational pathways into emerging industries and using public funds more effectively to reduce long-term crisis spending. Burnham suggests replicating this thinking nationally could involve:
- Placing electoral reform centre stage to foster more collaborative politics.
- Building consensus on the public investment needed to escape the simultaneous cost-of-living and housing crises.
- Restoring greater control over public spending and providing market stability through clear, long-term direction.
"This is Manchesterism and, yes, it does mean doing things very differently," Burnham concludes, invoking the spirit of Manchester icon Tony Wilson. He issues a warning that Britain's future will be decided in the north, urging the political establishment to get on the right side of that change.
