Andy Burnham plans beefed-up control centre in Downing Street

{"text":[[{"start":8.4,"text":"Andy Burnham will enter Downing Street with a plan to turn Number 10 into a beefed-up control centre as Britain’s seventh prime minister in the past decade seeks greater sway over important public spending decisions."}],[{"start":22.1,"text":"Burnham will replace Sir Keir Starmer on Monday and announce his cabinet before unveiling a blitz of policy announcements on issues such as devolution, transport, the water industry and social care."}],[{"start":33.75,"text":"The incoming prime minister has held discussions about a significant restructuring of No 10 to give him more direct oversight over the execution of his government’s priorities, according to four people with knowledge of the plan. "}],[{"start":47.85,"text":"The move is designed to make the prime minister less reliant on the “imperial” Treasury and help force change through the Whitehall machine."}],[{"start":55.800000000000004,"text":"One person briefed on Burnham’s plan said a more powerful No 10 would also help co-ordinate with metro mayors who will be handed significant new powers as part of the government’s devolution push."}],[{"start":68.30000000000001,"text":"In his first Downing Street address, Burnham will set out his “priorities for restoring confidence in government”, his spokesperson said. "}],[{"start":77.05000000000001,"text":"Burnham arrives in Downing Street promising a radical departure from his predecessor’s shortlived premiership, which unravelled as Nigel Farage’s Reform UK surged in the polls, the economy struggled and Starmer’s own limitations as a communicator were exposed."}],[{"start":93.9,"text":"In his address to the nation, Burnham will say he is “acutely conscious” of the rapid turnover of prime ministers, underlining the deepening instability of British politics and impatience of voters."}],[{"start":106.45,"text":"One of his first initiatives as incoming premier after taking office without winning a general election and having secured the Labour leadership unopposed, will be to cancel Starmer’s digital ID scheme, saving £600mn a year. "}],[{"start":120.60000000000001,"text":"Other early moves are expected to include creating a cabinet-level minister for artificial intelligence, taking Thames Water under greater public control and encouraging more North Sea drilling without relaxing Labour’s moratorium on new exploration licences."}],[{"start":135.5,"text":"Burnham has ruled out splitting up the Treasury, but his transition team has drawn up plans to give No 10 closer oversight of tax and spending decisions. "}],[{"start":144.3,"text":"“No 10 hasn’t been set up to be strong enough to drive through priorities,” said one person familiar with the plans, adding it will be “much more activist in the economic space”. "}],[{"start":155.25,"text":"While the Treasury would still set overall spending limits, No 10 would have more say in how that money was spent. "}],[{"start":162.5,"text":"Burnham is expected to appoint Shabana Mahmood as chancellor, after deciding against Ed Miliband amid concerns that the former Labour leader could use the Treasury as an alternative government power base. "}],[{"start":null,"text":"

"}],[{"start":174.55,"text":"Proposals for an “Office of the Prime Minister” or “Downing Street Department” have been part of planning for the first 100 days of Burnham’s premiership after he promised his government would be “the most significant change moment in our policy for 40 years”. "}],[{"start":189.95000000000002,"text":"The model would see a bigger economic and financial team in No 10, supplementing the Cabinet Office’s Economic and Domestic Affairs Secretariat, and allow the prime minister to monitor performance and spending decisions independently of the Treasury. "}],[{"start":205.9,"text":"One person close to the talks said the inspiration for the plan had been the Office of Management and Budget, which wields considerable power inside the White House."}],[{"start":214.55,"text":"Burnham has already set out plans for a No 10 North to focus on regeneration, re-industrialisation and public control of essential services. Some of the additional control Burnham is seeking will be exercised from No 10 North, according to a person familiar with the matter."}],[{"start":231.35000000000002,"text":"Louise Haigh, a Burnham ally who is likely to be given a co-ordinating role as chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, has argued that No 10 is “criminally underpowered”, leaving a budget-conscious “imperial” Treasury as the driving force in domestic policy. "}],[{"start":248.90000000000003,"text":"She told the BBC this month that there should be a “proper beefed-up economic unit in Number 10 that both the prime minister and the chancellor have access to”."}],[{"start":258.3,"text":"Hannah White, chief executive of the Institute for Government, said: “A stronger department of the prime minister and cabinet, matching the strength and influence of the Treasury, would really help Burnham to drive his priorities.”"}],[{"start":270.55,"text":"In a post on Instagram on Sunday night, Starmer said he was “so proud” that he was leaving the country “in a much better state” than when he became prime minister. The video included unseen footage of Starmer and his wife Vic at the moment the exit poll was published on election night in July 2024."}],[{"start":288.1,"text":"Starmer said: “I am so proud that we leave the country in a much better state than we found it two years ago — on the economy, on public services, on protection for children, on defence and security, and on our international reputation in particular."}],[{"start":302.05,"text":"“That’s the test for any prime minister. Do you leave your country in a better place than you found it? And that answer is yes.”"}],[{"start":316.20000000000005,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1784510649_5467.mp3"}