{"text":[[{"start":11.4,"text":"Andy Burnham has promised more state intervention and more regional control as he laid out his political philosophy of “Manchesterism” three weeks before his expected appointment as UK prime minister. "}],[{"start":23.8,"text":"In his first major speech since Sir Keir Starmer announced his resignation, Burnham also promised the biggest council housebuilding programme for 50 years and fresh help to tackle the cost of living. "}],[{"start":35.6,"text":"The UK’s current economic model had left Londoners with “an overheated economy”, he said on Monday, arguing that change would benefit all parts of the country. "}],[{"start":44.5,"text":"Burnham unveiled his plan for a “Number 10 North”, a new part of the Downing Street operation based in Manchester, which would act as a vehicle to spread powers out of London. He said this hub would be “the nerve centre of a rewired Britain”."}],[{"start":58.9,"text":"But he refused to take questions from the press after his speech in Manchester, highlighting how much of his policy agenda remains uncertain."}],[{"start":66.95,"text":"The former Greater Manchester mayor is on track to become prime minister on July 20, before which he plans to make further speeches."}],[{"start":74.4,"text":"The bond market reacted calmly to Burnham’s latest comments, with the 10-year gilt yield slightly lower on the day at 4.72 per cent. The pound was up 0.4 per cent by late afternoon at $1.326."}],[{"start":89.05000000000001,"text":"Investors said they had been reassured by Burnham’s insistence that he would stick to chancellor Rachel Reeves’s fiscal rules, and his words on welfare reform. "}],[{"start":98.15,"text":"Burnham highlighted how local control could help people into employment, pledging: “We will reduce the welfare bill in a way that is fair and lasting.” "}],[{"start":106.9,"text":"At the same time, he promised to find the cash to help voters with their living costs, admitting that people could not wait indefinitely for change. "}],[{"start":116.7,"text":"“People need a bit extra now to help with rising costs. I will do my very best to deliver it and, while not taking risks with public finances, will seek to give Britain some breathing space. People need to be able to look forward to a night out or a holiday with the kids. People need hope,” he said."}],[{"start":134.55,"text":"With senior Labour figures such as energy secretary Ed Miliband and home secretary Shabana Mahmood jostling to be chancellor, Burnham promised an “inclusive team at the very highest level” but suggested he would not be making cabinet appointments until after he becomes prime minister. "}],[{"start":151.45000000000002,"text":"Burnham promised “greater public control of essential services like water, housing, energy and transport” as part of “10-year plans”, suggesting a gradual transition. "}],[{"start":162.05,"text":"This would involve “learning from the model that has transformed our bus networks here in Greater Manchester”, which are privately owned but directed by the mayor, he said. "}],[{"start":171.9,"text":"In a suggestion that he would legislate to force Whitehall to act more in the interest of the regions, Burnham said “Number 10 North” would be “given a mission to strive for equivalent living conditions in all parts of Britain”. "}],[{"start":184.5,"text":"Burnham said he was determined to repair the public housing stock, after the country had sold off almost 1.5mn units of social housing since the 1980s, through a “housing first philosophy”. He said that more than 1mn people were on housing waiting lists and had been stuck there for years because of the lack of council homes. “The country is in a housing trap. We are forced to chase rents in the private rented sector through the benefits system,” he added."}],[{"start":214.55,"text":"The “Number 10 North” hub, which the FT first reported last week, would allow power to flow to the Midlands, the South West and London, as well as the North East, Yorkshire and the Humber, Burnham said. "}],[{"start":227,"text":"It would co-ordinate different parts of national and local government with the aim of helping regions to set long-term economic strategy. Burnham did not specify which powers he wants to devolve to which authorities or when. "}],[{"start":240.15,"text":"Burnham promised to borrow ideas from Germany, where the federal government is legally required to share income tax and value added tax revenues with the country’s regions, and requires fiscal equalisation to reduce disparities between richer and poorer areas."}],[{"start":256.25,"text":"A longtime critic of the whipping system at Westminster used to enforce party discipline, Burnham vowed to change the culture of parliament and said he would be “letting MPs be authentic representatives, and not using the whip system to create fear or close down debate”."}],[{"start":272.45,"text":"Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, said earlier measures to grant more control to the regions had failed, claiming devolution had not made London safer nor improved NHS performance in Wales."}],[{"start":284.25,"text":"Ahead of Burnham’s speech, Tory party leader Kemi Badenoch warned that the UK was “headed for a summer of chaos”, with the economy “left in limbo” due to the lack of clarity over the policies and key appointments of the “caretaker prime minister”. "}],[{"start":299.35,"text":"Additional reporting by Rachel Rees and Ian Smith in London"}],[{"start":310.05000000000007,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1782781873_1384.mp3"}