Andy Burnham, the new MP for Makerfield, has outlined a vision for governing Britain that draws inspiration from European policy frameworks, specifically Finland's housing strategy and Germany's constitution. In his first speech since Keir Starmer's resignation as Prime Minister, Burnham stated his intention to adopt Finland's 'Housing First' philosophy for council housing and incorporate elements of the German Basic Law to address disparities in living conditions across the UK.
Burnham plans to implement a council home policy modeled on Finland's 'Housing First' approach, which prioritizes providing immediate council housing to homeless individuals, thereby reducing the need for temporary accommodation. This model ensures tenants have contracts and pay rent while receiving support services. Finland has reported a significant decrease in homelessness since adopting this policy, with a high percentage of tenants remaining housed long-term. Burnham has vowed to launch "the biggest council house building programme since the post-war period" to prevent homelessness, aiming for a "decisive shift to a more preventative and productive state."
However, this proposal has faced criticism from Conservative shadow housing secretary James Cleverly, who accused Burnham of overpromising and highlighted Manchester's homelessness figures under Burnham's mayorship. Cleverly stated, "Andy Burnham has completely failed to tackle homelessness in Manchester. He promised to end it, but it has soared instead, all while he’s been hiking council tax."
Beyond housing, Burnham intends to establish a 'No 10 North' hub in Manchester to serve as a central point for governance and to drive parity in living conditions nationwide. This initiative would be informed by Germany's Basic Law, the country's constitution. Specifically, Article 106 of the German constitution mandates the equitable distribution of tax revenues to ensure uniform living conditions across the federal territory. Article 72 grants the federal government the authority to enact legislation that supersedes state laws to maintain equivalent living standards.
Burnham also commented on the political climate, criticizing the "ten years of political turbulence since Brexit." While he previously expressed hope for rejoining the European Union, he has since shifted his stance, stating that Brexit has been damaging and that revisiting those arguments would be unproductive. His focus, he indicated, is on future policy rather than past divisions.
Maya Singer Hobbs, a senior research fellow at the IPPR think tank, described Burnham's prioritization of homelessness as a "really positive signal," citing a lack of political will and housing as major obstacles to addressing the issue in the UK.