Can Andy Burnham rewire the ‘Treasury brain’ to boost growth?
Andy Burnham's plan aims to reduce Treasury's control over public finances and bring long-term thinking to economic policy.
Intelligence analysis by Qwen 2.5 (3B)
Labour leader Andy Burnham proposes creating a new No 10 department in Manchester to take control of growth policy from the Treasury, aiming for more long-term thinking on economic issues.
Andy Burnham wants to create a new group in Manchester that helps make plans for growing the economy better than the old group that controls money.
Analysis
{"#No10North":"The new Manchester-based unit aims to coordinate growth policies across different departments like housing, education, and planning. Former Brown adviser Michael Jacobs suggests a similar role to the Office for Climate Change.","Devolution Plans":"Ruth Curtice of the Resolution Foundation thinks devolution plans will be effective in coordinating these policies. She notes that No 10 North won't have full access to other ministers or the Prime Minister, unlike the Treasury.","Treasury's Influence":"David Gauke, a former Conservative chief secretary to the Treasury, argues that even with reduced control over growth policy, the Treasury will remain powerful due to its control over tax and spend. He also questions whether No 10 North can effectively push for pro-growth policies."}
Key points
- Andy Burnham proposes creating a new No 10 department in Manchester
- The new group aims to coordinate economic policies across different departments like housing, education, and planning
- Some experts think this could help find ways to grow the economy without cutting too much spending or raising taxes
The new group could help find ways to grow the economy without cutting too much spending or raising taxes, which might not be popular with everyone but would still benefit people overall.
Some people think the new group won't have enough power to change how the government makes decisions about growing the economy. Others worry it could make things worse by trying to push for growth when other parts of the government don't want to do so.
