30 Jun 2026
By Kerry Booth, Chief Executive of the RSN.
Now that Andy Burnham has delivered his first major policy speech since launching his bid to become Prime Minister, I have been reflecting on the initiatives he set out. As a firm believer in the power of devolution, I believe this is an opportunity to have a wider conversation about the importance of place in local policymaking and ensuring that rural communities are fully recognised within it.
To emphasise this, he chose to deliver his speech outside of London…in Manchester. I have to admit to being disappointed that he’s chosen his home territory, a city that already loves him to make this speech. It would have been so much more powerful if he had recognised that there are so many areas in this country, that need the support and investment that Manchester has had. Imagine if you will, that he made the speech from a deprived coastal town, or a rural ex-mining community struggling with a lack of economic investment, that may have had a more powerful message that he wants to bring about change to ‘make the whole country better off’.
The main focus of the speech was the creation of a No 10 North, which would support regions on 3 clear tasks:
- Reform of essential utilities
- Reindustrialisation
- Regeneration of places
The importance of every area contributing to and being part of solutions was evident. Burnham touched on issues that have been impacting rural communities throughout the years, the lack of affordable housing, transport issues and the need to grow the economy everywhere, but what I felt was slightly missing was the recognition that these issues will impact different places in different ways.
‘Manchesterism’, as an economic approach, sounds promising, growth from the ground up, and a understanding that the whole country suffers when regions are not meeting their potential. However, we need to recognise that not every place will have the resources and expertise that came together to help Manchester flourish.
Absolutely I agree with his approach that we need to do things differently, the existing model of politics in this country has led to siloed departments working in different directions rather than a cohesive approach and for rural, a lack of clear policy direction.
However, there isn’t an unlimited pot of funding coming with the new Prime Minister into office, and to make big changes to infrastructure, particularly to rural areas may cost more. Burnham touched on rural transport issues, but to fix the current transport deserts that we have across the country needs a recognition that rural transport may not ever be profitable, and we need a mix of solutions to help rural communities have the opportunity to access services, and employment and training that they need to help the economy grow.
Burnham set out a goal where no one has to leave their city to get on in life…interestingly we need him to understand that in rural communities, our young people have been leaving our communities for decades to be able to get on in life.
We all want to have ‘hope in our hearts’, and it will be important for Andy Burnham to recognise that not all of the country looks like Manchester, each place will have their own local priorities. He needs to understand the needs and challenges that rural communities and service providers face, to be able to put in place the devolution framework and policy to support those areas to thrive.
Watch this space…
