00:00We need to change politics and we need to do it now.
00:06Good growth in every postcode was a takeaway line from Andy Burnham's first speech as a contender for number 10.
00:14But what did he promise should he become the Prime Minister and what can Manchesterism do for Kent?
00:21Burnham explained this philosophy as inspired by his time as the Mayor of Manchester,
00:26prioritising stable finances, committing to infrastructure and public intervention when necessary.
00:33Devolution was a key message in his speech,
00:36including plans to create a new number 10 in Manchester to move power away from Westminster.
00:42Kent and Medway is set to undergo a huge overhaul of its local government within the next few years,
00:48with devolution involving electing a mayor still not off the cards.
00:53Could this become a possibility under Burnham in the future?
00:58The Makerfield MP has also pledged to build the most council houses since the post-war period,
01:04as well as bring down welfare spending.
01:08He pledged to reform business rates to help pubs and high streets,
01:12and called for schools to move away from just focusing on getting pupils into the university.
01:18If the former Manchester mayor were to be Prime Minister, would things be that different?
01:24At his speech, he pledged to stick with the theme of the current fiscal rules the previous leader,
01:29Sir Keir Starmer, set.
01:31So could he really rewire the state?
01:34And most importantly, not alienate Kent in his pursuit of the North?
01:41For me, the MP for Ashford, I totally agree with that.
01:45Often we talk about London and South East, but we know that.
01:49My own experience, like in Ashford, we don't feel that growth, what is in London, in Ashford.
01:56So, for example, the classic example is like Ashford International Train Service.
02:01We know that the Kent stations lost that train connectivity, and every travel is from London.
02:08So I am more optimistic listening to him today that he's talking about it's not just the central London need
02:15to grow.
02:15We need that growth every part of the country, every postcode.
Comments