Key facts
- Andy Burnham plans to put essential services under stronger public control.
- He aims to make services more affordable and lower the cost of living.
- Burnham cited the success of public control over buses in Greater Manchester.
- He wants to apply lessons learned to water, energy, and housing sectors.
- Burnham reaffirmed his commitment to the triple lock pension scheme.
Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, has announced his intention to implement a "new approach" to bring essential services under "stronger public control." In an online forum session, Burnham stated his aim to make services such as water, energy, and housing more affordable and to lower the cost of living, drawing parallels with the successful public control of buses in Greater Manchester.
Burnham indicated that "public control" could encompass a range of measures, from robust regulation to outright public ownership. He has previously voiced his desire for increased public oversight of energy and water companies, specifically mentioning Thames Water. The utility's proposed rescue package, which included significant debt write-offs and investment in exchange for waiving pollution fines, was rejected by the government. Burnham argued that the privatized model has led to insufficient investment in infrastructure, a point underscored by National Audit Office estimates requiring at least £290 billion in investment by 2050.
Despite his focus on restructuring essential services, Burnham reaffirmed his commitment to the triple lock pension scheme, calling it an important manifesto promise. This commitment comes amidst ongoing debate about the scheme's financial sustainability and its burden on working taxpayers.