Andy Burnham is now PM. What does this mean for us in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire?
From devolution to transport, we assess how his appointment is likely to affect us following the government's approval of two unitary authorities for the region from 2028…
The first northern PM since Harold Wilson left office in 1976, the newly-elected MP for Makerfield, Andy Burnham, made his opening speech as Prime Minister this Monday, promising to decentralise power away from Westminster with a No 10 in Manchester, a bold plan to end homelessness, and the biggest building of social housing since the post-war period. The new PM has talked about this moment being ‘a circuit breaker for Britain,’ bringing forward some of the biggest changes we’ve seen over the last 40 years.
All four of Stoke’s MPs are currently Labour and, perhaps unsurprisingly, welcome his appointment. Dr Allison Gardner, MP for Stoke-on-Trent South, commented that she’s ‘excited’ by the direction Andy has set out, particularly his commitment to reindustrialising Britain. “Communities like Stoke-on-Trent South have the skills, the heritage and the potential to be at the heart of that mission,” she said.
MP for Stoke-on-Trent North and Kidsgrove, David Williams, said Burnham ‘gets’ places like ours. “He knows our towns don’t want lecturing from Whitehall,” he added.
So, how will his policies affect us here in Stoke? Read on to find out our predictions based on what he’s said so far…
Cost of Living: His speech talked about giving people “breathing space and some help with the cost of living.” Yesterday, he pledged to remove tax from utility bills from 1 October 2026, which is expected to save households £45 over a six-month period.
Ceramics: Burnham has repeatedly argued that Britain should rebuild its manufacturing base rather than relying on financial services. With ceramics among the UK's most energy-intensive industries, Stoke could benefit if his government expands support for industrial decarbonisation, exports and advanced manufacturing. The government's recent £120 million support package for the ceramics sector suggests the industry is already firmly on Whitehall's radar.
