We need a different path': Andy Burnham vows to put energy and water under public control

"We need a different path completely. What is that path? Put more things back under stronger public control: energy, housing, water, transport. I've done that with buses in Greater Manchester. I was the first to do it. Margaret Thatcher deregulated them and then they just work for the private shareholders and not for the paying public. I put them back under public control with the 2 fares, so you take that principle and apply it to energy and apply to the water, that's what I think we need to do."

"The country gave away its control with basic things that people depend upon every day and that was a big mistake in my opinion. He said the deindustrialisation and privatisation of Britain had left areas like Makerfield without good jobs and people unable to afford the basics."

"Labour has yet to officially select its candidate, but Downing Street has indicated it would not block Burnham's attempt to stand as it did in the Gorton and Denton byelection in east Manchester earlier this year. The party has been in turmoil since its poor performance in last week's local elections, with several government ministers, including the health secretary Wes Streeting resigning this week."

"Andy Burnham has suggested that a programme of mass renationalisation would be at the centre of his policy platform if he succeeds Keir Starmer as prime minister. The Greater Manchester mayor is seeking a return to Westminster via a byelection in Makerfield. He has been widely expected to challenge Starmer for the Labour leadership if elected and is seen as the favoured candidate of the party's soft left."

Andy Burnham has indicated that mass renationalisation would be central to his policy platform if he becomes prime minister. He is seeking a return to Westminster through a by-election in Makerfield, with Labour not yet selecting a candidate. Downing Street has signalled it would not block his attempt to stand, as it did earlier in east Manchester. Labour has faced turmoil after poor local election results, including ministerial resignations such as health secretary Wes Streeting, and some advisers have urged Keir Starmer to set out a timetable for departure. Burnham argues deindustrialisation and privatisation left areas without good jobs and unable to afford essentials, calling for public control of energy, housing, water, and transport, citing bus services in Greater Manchester as an example.

Read at www.theguardian.com