Greater Manchester’s Mayoral candidate Andy Burnham warned that the political culture in Washington and Westminster has “failed to provide answers” amid the decline of industry and that the old-style politics isn’t just broken; it is shattered as he launched his campaign to be Mayor of Greater Manchester today.
“The political culture in Washington, Brussels and Westminster has failed to provide answers in the post-industrial world. The political class is too remote to see the rising inequality and unfairness.
“Westminster has failed the North of England, by giving us a housing crisis, a creaking transport system and a low-wage economy. It has taken hope away from a generation of our young people, making them the target for cuts.” he told the audience
He said many towns outside London now felt they had been “forgotten” and set out a series of pledges for the mayoralty which he hopes would increase opportunity and tackle frustration over jobs and stagnating living standards.
“Devolution needs to disrupt the old structure, lead a new democratic revolution and pioneer new forms of civic engagement – where people don’t just look at politics from the outside, but take control and make more decisions for themselves.
“I want the people who voted Leave in Greater Manchester to hear a clear message today – I understand why. Too many of our towns feel forgotten after seeing industry taken away, house prices collapse, wages held down and another round of rapid change with the expansion of the EU. We need to respond to their legitimate concerns and change the rules on immigration.
“If I am Mayor next year, young people will be my priority for investment, not my target for cuts. I want a Greater Manchester where we invest in the early years to make all kids school-ready at age four and where all teenagers have real hope that there is a bright future waiting for them at the end of school, with apprenticeships for those who get the grades. I want to help people in their 20s get a decent and affordable place to rent or own. I want to get rid of the approach to social care that parcels it into 15 minute slots.”
The MP for Leigh, and former shadow Home Secretary beat the Interim Mayor and Crime and Police Commisioner Tony Lloyd and Bury MP Ivan Lewis to the race to be Labour’s candidate earlier in the summer.
The Manchester mayor will have wide powers over housing, transport, skills and healthcare. The job includes integrating the £6bn annual health and social care budget, running the police and possibly fire service, and the local transport system.
He faces Liberal Democrat candidate Jane Brophy, UKIP’s Shneur Odze, Deyika Nzeribe from the Green Party and Stephen Morris from English Democrats while the the Conservatives are yet to announce their candidate.
