give us more power
BURNHAM IN WESTMINSTER TO CALL FOR GREATER DEVOLUTION – AND WARN OF DAMAGE A ‘NO DEAL’ BREXIT WOULD DO
GREATER Manchester needs more power to take control of its own destiny, the region’s mayor will say in a major speech today.
Devolution has given us energy, hope and a ‘sense of possibility,’ Andy Burnham is expected to tell a Westminster event.
While the government has ‘ground to a halt,’ Greater Manchester has forged ahead, carving a brighter future for itself, he will say.
But Mr Burnham will demand more for our region.
More power, more responsibility and the proper resources to make real change.
In his first Westminster address since becoming mayor last year, Mr Burnham is also due to call for other northern areas – such as Cheshire and Yorkshire – to be afforded the same opportunity.
Only then, he is expected to say, will we be able to begin a ‘new, positive chapter for our country’ and build a ‘much healthier’ brand of politics.
“While Westminster has faced growing paralysis, Greater Manchester has been making progress and delivering results,” Mr Burnham is expected to say.
“Greater Manchester stands ready to take on more responsibilities, with the powers and resources to deliver.”
Devolution has been a ‘shaft of light’ for our region in an otherwise gloomy political scene, Mr Burnham is due to tell delegates.
“It is helping us engage people in developing policies and counteracting the widespread disengagement from politics that led to Brexit,” he is due to say as he issues a stark warning on the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.
A no-deal Brexit ‘would be a disaster’ for Greater Manchester, Mr Burnham is expected to say at the event, the day before the first Convention for the North.
“The shock to our economy and public services would be huge,” he will add.
“We are looking at double-digit damage to our economy and disruption to essential services.
“I believe we need to build in Greater Manchester a broad, cross-party campaign against no-deal with the aim of stopping it at all costs.
“As soon as it becomes clear that the MPs against a no-deal outcome cannot unite around a plan, I would urge all Greater Manchester MPs to support a call on the EU for an extension of Article 50 beyond the March deadline as the next way of stopping no-deal.
“This isn’t about frustrating Brexit. It is about getting Brexit right.
“If that fails and we are left on the cliff-edge of no-deal with no other options, then, and only then, would I endorse the call for a people’s vote on the proposed no-deal departure and encourage our MPs to do the same.”
Turning to devolution for other northern areas, Mr Burnham is expected to say: “However the Brexit endgame plays out, it cannot and should not distract from the need for a big reset of our own political system.
“In truth, the referendum result was as much an instruction for Westminster to review its relationship with the rest of England as it was for it to review its relationship with Brussels.
“What found its voice in June 2016 was the deeply-held sentiment that our over-centralised political system has neglected some areas in favour of others.
“But that uncomfortable truth has been allowed to be overlooked in all the to-ing and fro-ing over Europe. To leave it unanswered is dangerous. “If the phrase ‘take back control’ is to mean anything, it must mean substantial devolution of power and resources out of Westminster to all of the English regions. “There are big cities around the world that are increasingly acting alone, or together in powerful networks. “But London – and possibly Manchester – apart, English cities are not sufficiently empowered to join these new clubs. “Consequently, we are missing out on where the action is in the new economy.” Pointing to Greater Manchester’s progress, Mr Burnham is expected to say devolution has ‘unlocked new energy and new thinking when the country needs it most.’ “When the business of central government is grinding to a halt, devolution is our best hope of addressing the challenges we face,” Mr Burnham will add. He is due to highlight this summer’s Northern Rail row as a prime example northern leaders ‘shouting into the abyss’ when pushing for change. “People’s lives have been literally been turned upside down by the chaos,” Mr Burnham is expected to
add. “I have no wish at all to be permanently at loggerheads with the government over the future of the Northern Powerhouse and nothing would please me more than to draw a line and agreeing a plan and timetable for the rail investment we need.
“But the broader experience of this summer is that we cannot again be left witnessing the failure of essential services but without the power to act.
“We want a mature partnership with government, working together to deliver our aims and priorities where they align.”
Mr Burnham is expected to talk of Greater Manchester’s successes in welfare reform and tackling rough sleeping, highlighting that more than 3,000 people have been helped into jobs as part of the ‘Working Well’ programme – and that 100 homeless people have been housed.
“But what gives me most confidence that we can meet our ambitious goal is that we have built a movement behind it, uniting public, private, voluntary and faith sectors,” he is due to add. “This is true innovation in public service delivery.”