Burnham: It’s time to change political culture in Washington and Westminster

The political culture in Washington and Westminster has “failed to provide answers” amid the decline of industry, Andy Burnham said today.

The former shadow Cabinet minister, speaking two days after Americans elected Donald Trump as president, said traditional politics was “shattered” as he demanded changes to British democracy and the rules on immigration.

Burnham also warned that Britain must not return to “business as usual” in the aftermath of the shock vote for Brexit.

Speaking  as he formally launched his campaign to be the first “devo mayor” for Greater Manchester, he alluded to the result of the US election as he described a political culture which had failed to tackle inequality and social problems.

“The old-style politics isn’t just broken; it is shattered. People are demanding real change and devolution won’t work if we simply transplant the old way of doing things onto new political structures.

“The political culture in Washington, Brussels and Westminster has failed to provide answers in the post-industrial world. The political class is too remote to see the rising inequality and unfairness.

“Westminster has failed the North of England, by giving us a housing crisis, a creaking transport system and a low-wage economy. It has taken hope away from a generation of our young people, making them the target for cuts.

“I see no evidence that Westminster is ready to change. Brexit should have been the wake-up call but it’s back to business as usual.”

Burnham was selected in August as Labour’s candidate for the Greater Manchester vote and stood down as shadow home secretary at party conference with a staunch defence of his role in the cabinets and shadow teams of the last four Labour leaders.

Since the summer he has sought to articulate the frustration of people in the north of England who have walked away from Labour – or from voting altogether – because of fears that politics is not addressing their problems.

Today Burnham repeated his desire to understand public concern over immigration, which played a significant part in Britain’s vote for Brexit.

He said many towns outside London now felt they had been “forgotten” and set out a series of pledges for the mayoralty which he hopes would increase opportunity and tackle frustration over jobs and stagnating living standards.

“Devolution needs to disrupt the old structure, lead a new democratic revolution and pioneer new forms of civic engagement – where people don’t just look at politics from the outside, but take control and make more decisions for themselves.

“I want the people who voted Leave in Greater Manchester to hear a clear message today – I understand why. Too many of our towns feel forgotten after seeing industry taken away, house prices collapse, wages held down and another round of rapid change with the expansion of the EU. We need to respond to their legitimate concerns and change the rules on immigration.

“If I am Mayor next year, young people will be my priority for investment, not my target for cuts. I want a Greater Manchester where we invest in the early years to make all kids school-ready at age four and where all teenagers have real hope that there is a bright future waiting for them at the end of school, with apprenticeships for those who get the grades. I want to help people in their 20s get a decent and affordable place to rent or own. I want to get rid of the approach to social care that parcels it into 15 minute slots.”