Former Labour MP Joan Walley has expressed optimism about Andy Burnham's promise to deliver 'good growth in every postcode and hope in every heart' if he becomes prime minister. Walley, who represented Stoke-on-Trent North between 1983 and 2015, told BBC Radio Stoke that she got to know Burnham during his first period in parliament between 2001 and 2017, when he was elected mayor of Greater Manchester. As reported by BBC Radio Stoke, Walley described their politics as 'very, very, very similar' and noted that Burnham has a 'sense of urgency' in his approach. The bond between them developed further when Walley, Burnham, and Yorkshire MP Michael Clapham were asked by late deputy Labour leader John Prescott to take part in a coal mining review, investigating issues in former coal mining areas.
The government's Social Mobility Commission revealed in 2020 that people are born into a 'postcode lottery' with significant disparities across regions. As reported by Business Standard, the pay gap between affluent and disadvantaged areas is 2.5 times larger in some parts of the country. This inequality stems from historical economic shifts that caused deindustrialisation in traditional manufacturing regions, leaving many areas feeling economically left behind despite their industrial revolution heritage.
The biggest difference between economically leading regions and lagging areas lies in worker productivity, with London's output per employee being 35% higher than the national average. According to Business Standard, nearly 40% of wage variation across the country is explained by whether young adults move to different regions. This migration pattern helps both the regions people move to and those they leave, as the latter receive more capital per worker and experience productivity boosts through private investment.
Despite political support from figures like Walley, Burnham's approach has faced criticism from opposition parties. Conservative Party chair Kevin Hollinrake accused Burnham of focusing on 'more devolution, more committees, more process' rather than addressing fundamental issues. As reported by BBC Radio Stoke, Hollinrake criticised the approach as 'the politics of distraction from a Labour Party that is deliberately avoiding the questions that actually matter'. Burnham has also been accused of showing a 'lack of knowledge' about Scotland by First Minister John Swinney. Meanwhile, Walley said Sir Keir Starmer had done 'the gracious thing' by stepping down as prime minister after repeated calls for him to resign.
Walley believes Burnham's experience in Manchester would enable him to bring 'a different perspective' and 'a sense of urgency' to government. According to BBC Radio Stoke, she noted that 'He's worked in that way in Manchester, and seen how a place can start to look up rather than look down'. The analysis proposes that a shift from place-based to people-focused policies could fulfill the spirit of Burnham's pledge, with real 'levelling up' having never been tried in this comprehensive manner. The proposed approach includes worker skills development, infrastructure spending, cheaper housing in attractive locations, and better services in areas people are leaving.
