Andy Burnham's plans to 'rewire Britain' praised as bold challenge to Westminster

Plans by Labour leadership frontrunner Andy Burnham to radically reshape Britain's political system have been welcomed by commentators as one of the most ambitious challenges to Westminster's centralised power in decades.

In a major speech delivered at the People's History Museum in Manchester, Burnham set out his vision for a "rewired Britain", arguing that power must be transferred away from Whitehall and into the hands of local communities and regional leaders. Andy Burnham proposed a sweeping programme of devolution, including the creation of a "No 10 North" in Manchester to help drive decision-making outside London.

The proposals include handing local authorities greater control over areas such as skills, employment, transport and economic development, alongside calls for a major expansion in social housing and increased public oversight of essential services. Burnham has argued that the current Westminster model is "broken" and no longer delivers for communities across the country.

An editorial published by the Guardian said Burnham's speech represented a significant break from decades of highly centralised government, arguing that meaningful devolution would require Westminster to surrender genuine power rather than offering limited reforms. The newspaper described the agenda as a potentially transformative moment for British politics if fully implemented.

Supporters say devolving more powers could help tackle regional inequalities and bring decision-making closer to communities. However, critics have questioned how the proposals would be funded and whether local authorities have sufficient resources to deliver such sweeping changes. Analysts have also warned that devolution alone may not be enough to solve the UK's longstanding economic challenges.

Burnham's speech comes as he seeks to position himself at the centre of Labour's future direction, with his plans likely to shape political debate in the months ahead.