LabourList

“No 10 North … will be given a mission to strive for equivalent living conditions in all parts of Britain – borrowing from the German Basic Law.” What on earth does that mean? The Basic Law is Germany’s constitution, and, at the risk of sounding like a lawyer (oh, wait…), Burnham is mixing two things. Article 72 is where “equivalent living conditions” is actually mentioned.

I know you’re exhausted. Runcorn, Gorton & Denton, a full set of May elections, and the most consequential by-election in an age – we all feel it. We also want to celebrate, and rightfully so – Makerfield has well and truly reinvigorated our movement, especially with younger members. Here in Young Labour, we managed to mobilise on three separate campaign days, helping young members reach the constituency in record numbers by activating a travel fund thanks to Emily and Elsie, our Chair and NEC Rep.

Over the past decade or so, an increase in news stories spotlighting chronic overcrowding and violence in UK prisons have pointed towards the complete degradation of the prison system. This decline is something Community has been shouting about for years, but before the Labour Party came into power in 2024, it felt like we were shouting into the void. Labour inherited a prison system in crises following years of austerity and budget cuts from the previous Conservative government.

Labour Councils up and down the country are helping to improve the lives of their residents. Week in, week out, Labour councils, working in partnership with the NHS, Homes England and the Labour Government, are getting things done for their local communities on the things that matter to local people. Every week, ‘LabourList’ brings you a selection of the great work being done by Labour Councils and Labour Mayors.

In his speech in Manchester last week, Andy Burnham put housing at the top of the country’s priority list. He was right to do so and the task is significant. Burnham will not begin with a clean slate. He will have to navigate the challenge of providing a new direction for Britain, while also sticking to Labour’s 2024 manifesto. This includes a pledge to deliver 1.5 million new homes before the end of this parliament. The next Prime Minister will have some solid foundations to build on.

Andy Burnham’s vision for Britain is both hopeful and radical. Rejecting a broken economic model and the broken Westminster system that got us here, he’s promised to reindustrialise every region and reimagine our towns. There’s even talk of a British renaissance. He knows that delivering this depends on reforming the First Past the Post (FPTP) electoral system.

When Andy Burnham steps across the threshold of 10 Downing Street he will have several huge jobs to lead on. Number one, of course, will be setting the political and policy direction for the country.

When Andy Burnham walks through the door of Downing Street later this month, he will make history as the first Prime Minister affiliated with the Co-operative Party. Despite working alongside Labour for almost a century and the success of countless Labour and Co-operative MPs, the party has never seen one of its own reach the country’s highest office.

Andy Burnham wants No. 10 North to become the nerve centre of a rewired Britain. He’s right that the Westminster system is broken and that power should move closer to the people it affects. But if Britain is to be truly rewired, he cannot rely on geography alone. He must address the corrupting influence of money in politics. Burnham is correct that for too long, decisions have been made in Westminster by people too far removed from the communities they serve.

A lodestar for every Labour Government is that we extend opportunities for all young people and families – especially those not fortunate enough to have access to wealth. In less than two years in office, Keir and his Cabinet presided over the end of the two-child cap, more help for parents with childcare costs, a £39 billion package for social and affordable housing and the start of wholescale reform of the broken SEND system.