A draft article penned by Andy Burnham for WalesOnline has been criticized for containing errors and inconsistencies, according to the news outlet. The article, intended to discuss devolution and regional growth, reportedly mirrored content from similar pieces written for Scotland and London, with place names and specific policy areas altered.
WalesOnline noted that while some phrases were unique to each regional version, many paragraphs and sentences remained the same across the drafts. For instance, all three versions included the statement: "Growth cannot be ordered from the top down. It can only be nurtured from the bottom up." However, the specific sectors mentioned for nurturing growth varied. In Scotland, Burnham highlighted "energy, shipbuilding, manufacturing and public services," while for Wales, the focus was on "steel, ports, energy and manufacturing." The London version specified "housing, transport, skills and public services."
The article also shared common sentiments about public feeling regarding the economy. Both the London and Wales versions stated: "Everyone can feel the country is not where it should be. People feel it in their bills, their rent, their high streets, their transport, and at the end of every month when there is less and less left over." The Wales version localized this feeling to specific areas such as "Merthyr. It is felt in Rhyl. Port Talbot feels it. It is felt in towns like Wrexham, communities like the Valleys, and places that have waited too long for politics to work for them." The London version similarly cited "Newham. It is felt in Brent. Croydon feels it. It is felt in towns like Barking, communities like Tottenham, and in places that have waited too long for politics to work for them."
Burnham's plan, as outlined in the article, was to present a 10-year strategy aimed at reducing the cost of essentials like "housing, energy and transport." However, the reporting pointed out that housing policy in Wales is under the purview of the devolved government, as are responsibilities for roads, buses, and some rail services. Similarly, the article's promise to reform business rates in Scotland, London, and Wales was met with the observation that business rates are set by the respective devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales.