Andy Burnham Proposes Plan to Shift UK Political Power from London

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has called for a radical restructuring of the United Kingdom’s political system, declaring that the central government in Westminster is "broken." The proposal aims to permanently shift decision-making power and economic control away from London to England’s regions. Burnham’s intervention comes as he prepares to unveil a comprehensive economic agenda that positions him as a significant figure in the future of national leadership. The Mayor argues that the current centralized model of governance fails to address regional inequalities and stifles economic growth outside of the capital. Decentralization of Economic Power The core of Burnham’s plan involves a "sweeping" transfer of authority to regional mayors and local governments. By moving political weight out of London, the proposal seeks to give northern cities and other regions direct control over their infrastructure, housing, and industrial strategies. Burnham maintains that the existing parliamentary structure is no longer capable of meeting the diverse needs of the UK population. This push for decentralization follows years of debate regarding the "levelling up" agenda, which critics…