Andy Burnham vows to construct a Britain the place ‘no one is written off’
EXCLUSIVE: The former Greater Manchester Mayor claimed he was used to being told things can’t be done, and that the era of Government’s giving up trying to solve the issues impacting people was over
The PM wants to build a Britain where nobody is written off(Image: Christopher Furlong/Pool Getty v)
Andy Burnham has vowed to build a country where “nobody is written off” and everyone is treated with respect.
The new PM swooped into power on Monday, and immediately moved to cut business rates for pubs, bring in a £2 cap on bus fares, and slash VAT on energy bills.
In a pledge to go further, the former Greater Manchester Mayor claimed he was used to being told things can’t be done, and that the era of Government’s giving up trying to solve the issues impacting people was over.
Writing for this newspaper, Mr Burnham claimed this week had shown how politicians could make lives a “little bit easier”, but that his job won’t be done until people aren’t just living, but “living well”.
He said: “Life doesn’t always go to plan. But whether someone gets the chance to get back on their feet says something about who we are. It says something about the country we’re trying to build.
“I want Britain to be a country where nobody is written off. Where everyone is treated with respect no matter who they are or what they’ve been through. And where the government doesn’t avoid a problem because it’s difficult, but rolls up its sleeves and gets to work.
“I want people to stop worrying and start feeling hopeful about what’s coming next. I want them to start to believe in Britain again. But I can’t ask people to dream about the future when they’re struggling to make life work.
“Of course, there will still be those who say it can’t be done.
“But we proved them wrong in Manchester. And we’re going to prove them wrong again on a bigger scale. We are going to get Britain believing again – and bring back hope.”
In his first address outside Downing Street, Mr Burnham used his speech to promise an end to rough sleeping, and is expected to make a string of policy announcements in the coming weeks, including on social care.
Mr Burnham has tasked his new Cabinet with “getting that cost of living down”, and said he wants to give give voters breathing space.
A Downing Street source said: “He is constantly guided by the public mood, and what he thinks the public will want to do when he’s presented those challenges.
“His superpower is his ability to have his finger on the pulse, and know where people are on stuff.
“It’s been a whirlwind of a week, everybody has put an absolute shift in, but it’s felt like a joy to do it.”
