West Midlands mayor Richard Parker had a front row seat to hear Prime Minister-in-waiting Andy Burnham make his first significant speech today ahead of entering Number 10 - and loved what he heard.
"It was a speech offering real hope and a positive vision, it's put a spring back in the step of many people who were feeling rather hopeless after the punch to the gut delivered by the local elections," said an upbeat Mr Parker, fresh off the train from Manchester.
"We wanted to hear that every place matters, and he delivered that message. Andy and I share values and a belief in ending the inequalities that have dogged our country and region, and I'm feeling very positive about what happens next."
Close Ties and a Shared Vision
Parker revealed he has already been in regular contact with the transition team supporting Burnham and has been tasked with outlining his own priorities for the region ahead of a widely expected 'coronation' to the premiership. Sir Keir Starmer is set to stand aside next month following his resignation, and with no challengers expected, Burnham is poised to take over.
Burnham, the former mayor of Greater Manchester, invited Parker and fellow regional mayors to sit in the front row during his landmark speech at the People's History Museum in Manchester, then made a beeline for Parker afterward. This gesture symbolized his intent to decentralize power to the regions.
Five Reasons Why Burnham as PM Could Be Brilliant for Birmingham and the West Midlands
1. Focus on the Regions: More Money, More Projects
Burnham pledged to concentrate more resources, finances, and power in the regions—described by commentators as 'devolution on steroids'. This should mean more chances for local projects in Birmingham, Walsall, Wolverhampton, Sandwell, Dudley, Solihull, and Coventry to get prioritized funding. He highlighted the stark imbalance between national and local government resources, noting that too many councils are 'threadbare'. "I am going to give Britain the circuit-breaker it needs, by building a more collaborative politics in Westminster, by taking power out of the centre and putting it in the hands of the people and places who can use it best," Burnham said.
2. Massive Council House Building Programme
One of Burnham's key pledges is to launch the biggest council house building programme in the post-war period. In Birmingham, where over 20,000 households are on council waiting lists and hundreds of families are in temporary accommodation, this is vital. Burnham stressed that Britain's housing crisis is having a 'ruinous impact' on the economy, and his plan would need to be matched by curbs on right to buy and incentives for house builders.
3. Reviving HS2 Connections to the North
HS2 was cancelled by Rishi Sunak and left 'dead' by Keir Starmer, but Burnham is likely to revive hopes of a faster train service linking Birmingham to Manchester, Leeds, and the North. Parker revealed he has had meetings to discuss reviving the idea, possibly involving Black Country areas. The future prosperity of Birmingham depends on the investment opportunities that HS2 promised.
4. Direct Access to the Most Powerful Politician in the Country
Parker has regular access to Burnham and his close-knit team, giving him the ear of the future PM. Burnham's mayoral experience means he understands regional needs and will ask the right questions. Parker noted that Burnham needs people around him who are committed but not blindly loyal, offering constructive challenge.
5. Focus on Education and Young People
Burnham included education and skills as a priority, mirroring Parker's belief that young people's potential must not be stifled. "We need a complete rethink of how we support the next generation to succeed, and it has to start with the education system," Burnham said. He pledged to end the school system's focus on university, instead building parity between academic and technical education, giving every young person a clear path into a reindustrialised Britain.
Parker concluded: "Andy and I share a lot of history. I was not surprised by the ambition and content of his speech today, and we now have to translate that into tangible impacts for people, here and across the country."
