Andy Burnham Proposes Regional Empowerment at National Economic Council

Prime Minister Andy Burnham convened the first National Economic Council for the nations in Glasgow to propose a new model of regional empowerment. Through an initiative called No10 North, Burnham advocated for devolution by default, arguing that the state must be rewired to move decision-making power beyond central parliaments and directly into the hands of local cities and regions to drive reindustrialisation.

While the Prime Minister urged devolved governments to partner with the UK Government to remove barriers to growth, the proposal met with cautious reception. First Minister of Scotland John Swinney welcomed the opportunity to turn words into action but emphasized that any new proposals must respect existing Scottish devolution. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting supported the vision, specifically urging the Scottish Government to transfer more power from Holyrood to local governments.

The diplomatic push follows a recent announcement of £1 billion in investment for innovation clusters and a Budget focused on business investment and cost-of-living relief. However, the council meeting occurred amid political tension in Northern Ireland, where First Minister Michelle O’Neill alleged that Deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly attempted to block the region's representation due to the Drumcree parading dispute.