UK’s likely next leader Andy Burnham to unveil economic, devolution plans

Frontrunner to be next PM expected to announce a 10-year mission to raise living standards.Andy Burnham, the frontrunner to become the United Kingdom’s next prime minister, will unveil his economic agenda in his first major policy speech since Keir Starmer announced his resignation last week.Monday’s address at a museum in Manchester is being seen as Burnham’s pitch to lead the country after a decade away from Westminster.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3‘I leave the biggest job’: Keir Stamer’s resignation speech in fulllist 2 of 3Why Britain devours its prime ministerslist 3 of 3Starmer couldn’t master the media. Can Burnham?end of listBurnham, who returned to Westminster earlier this month after winning a parliamentary ⁠seat, is the only declared candidate to replace Starmer, and if there are no other challengers he could take office by mid-July.Starmer announced he would quit two years after winning a large Labour majority as his popularity sank.Burnham, who rose to prominence as mayor of Manchester" class="entity-link entity-location" data-entity-id="1694" data-entity-type="location">Greater Manchester and has been dubbed ‌the “King of the North”, will use Monday’s speech to make devolving power to regions and local communities his flagship proposal.He will also commit to a 10-year mission to raise living standards through reindustrialisation, housing, infrastructure and reform of utilities. The focus would be not just on who governs the UK, but on changing how it is governed, his office said.“Andy wants communities in every part of Britain to seize their own agenda,” Labour Deputy Leader Lucy Powell told the BBC.Housing Secretary Steve Reed leaves Downing Street after a cabinet meeting [File: Leon Neal/Getty Images]‘Manchesterism’ to guide 10-year mission for growthA pro-business socialist from Labour’s “soft left”, Burnham has sought to calm markets by backing the government’s current borrowing limits.