Andy Burnham has set out some of his plans but not all (Image: Getty)
Andy Burnham has promised to publish a “10-year plan for Britain” later in the year, setting out the changes he hopes to introduce as Prime Minister. And Westminster is gearing up for a Budget statement on October 28, when we will discover whether he and Chancellor John Healey plan to increase taxes. It means we still don’t know exactly what sort of Prime Minister Mr Burnham will be.
But at the same time, there are a number of major changes we know are coming because the Prime Minister has already announced them. They include at least one tax rise, a new system of Government and radical reforms to transport services. Here are the biggest official announcements made by Prime Minister Andy Burnham so far:
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1) A new tax on holidays
The Prime Minister said he wants to give regions the power “to set an overnight visitor levy to commence towards the end of the financial year 2027-28”. This will mean extra charges on hotel stays in England, and could even include taxes for staying in a caravan park or campsite.
2) New regional councils
Many big city areas already have regional councils, known as combined authorities, led by mayors. But Andy Burnham wants to introduce the regional bodies everywhere, even in places that prefer not to have a mayor. Louise Haigh, Mr Burnham’s deputy, has written to every MP setting out the plan.
3) Putting his Manchester office in charge of economic growth
Andy Burnham has created a new department called Number 10 North, based in Manchester. He said: “The driving force behind it all will be No. 10 North. It will oversee the rewiring of the British state, the rebuilding of resilience in our communities and the re-industrialisation of our regions.”
4) Nationalising buses
He wants bus services to be controlled by elected politicians rather than private firms, although this means regional mayors, not the central Government in London. Mr Burnham said: “Taking back control of essential services such as transport is an enabler of a more productive economy, because it allows local areas to grab hold of the levers of power for themselves.”
5) Taking control of water companies
Andy Burnham thinks private firms are doing a poor job of providing water, although he wants “public control” of water rather than full nationalisation. He said: “This summer has shown us very clearly that water companies are failing to rise to the climate challenge. It cannot go on. Later in the year, our 10-year plan for Britain will set out plans for stronger public control over these essentials, making them work for people and places again.”
6) More council housing
He said: “Bringing forward the biggest council home building programme since the post-war period is the Labour way to get the welfare bill down.”
7) More technical education
Mr Burnham wants schools and colleges to train young people for jobs, even if that means less focus on academic learning, or pushing every child to apply for university. He calls this “reforming our education system, so that it balances academic and technical, and offers a path in life for all young people”.
The Prime Minister said: “Allowing mayors to shape technical pathways and provide work placements for young people, building back into colleges and schools from the needs of the regional economy, is the way to support more young people into work.”
8) Better mental health services
He promised “prioritising more accessible, community-based mental health services”
9) Local industrial strategies
This means that the Government will try to identify which types of businesses could succeed in different regions of the country, and then bring in universities to help them succeed. He said: “This is the way we will build a pro-business culture and an innovation-led economy in all parts of the UK, finally capturing the long-term benefits of the invention that is in the DNA of our nation, backing our start-ups and scale-ups to stay in the UK where they were founded.”
Andy Burnham Is Officially Planning Nine Major Law and Policy Changes
Andy Burnham’s arrival in Downing Street has opened a new chapter in British politics, with the Prime Minister promising a significant reshaping of how the country is governed. Rather than concentrating decision-making almost entirely in Westminster, Burnham has repeatedly argued for transferring greater power to regions, mayors and local communities.
The government has already announced a number of major policy directions, while other proposals are expected to be developed further in a promised ten-year plan for Britain. According to a summary published in September 2026, nine particularly important areas have already emerged: a possible visitor levy, new regional government structures, the creation of Number 10 North, greater public control of buses and water, a large council-house programme, changes to technical education, more accessible mental-health services and new regional industrial strategies.
These proposals cover everything from taxation and transport to housing, education and the organisation of government.
1. A New Visitor Levy
One of the most direct changes could affect people staying in hotels, campsites and other forms of tourist accommodation.
Burnham has proposed giving regions the power to introduce an overnight visitor levy. The plan is intended to allow local areas to raise additional revenue from tourism, with the proposed timetable pointing towards the end of the 2027–28 financial year.
The idea would effectively give local authorities another source of income without relying entirely on central government funding. Supporters of such a system could argue that visitors benefit from local infrastructure and therefore can contribute towards maintaining it.
However, the practical details would be important. The level of any charge, which types of accommodation would be covered and how the money could be spent would all influence its impact on tourism and local businesses.
2. New Regional Councils
Another major part of Burnham’s programme is a further expansion of regional government.
England already has combined authorities in several parts of the country, many of which are led by elected mayors. Burnham’s government has indicated that regional structures should become more widespread, including in areas that may not want a traditional mayoral system.
The broader objective is to move economic and administrative decisions closer to the communities affected by them.
The House of Lords Library has described the government’s wider agenda as being centred on “rewiring the state” and devolving greater powers to local areas.
If implemented, this could represent a substantial change in the relationship between Westminster and the regions.
3. Number 10 North
Perhaps the most symbolic institutional change is the creation of Number 10 North in Manchester.
Burnham has established the new government hub as part of his attempt to shift the centre of political and economic decision-making away from London. He has described Number 10 North as an organisation intended to help oversee the restructuring of the British state, strengthen communities and support reindustrialisation in the regions.
The proposal is closely connected to Burnham’s long-standing argument that Britain is too centralised.
The government’s wider economic strategy includes giving regions more influence over skills, industry, housing, transport and other areas. Reuters has also reported that decentralisation and regional economic development are central themes of Burnham’s approach.
4. Greater Public Control of Bus Services
Transport is another area where Burnham has proposed significant change.
His government wants bus services to be brought under greater public control, with elected regional leaders playing a larger role rather than leaving decisions primarily to private operators. The model reflects Burnham’s experience in Greater Manchester, where public control and franchising have been central parts of transport policy.
The stated argument is that transport should be treated as an important part of economic development. Reliable bus networks can influence access to employment, education and local services.
The proposal therefore goes beyond simply changing who operates buses. It is part of a broader attempt to give regions more control over essential infrastructure.
5. Stronger Public Control of Water
Water is potentially one of the most politically significant areas of the programme.
Burnham has argued that the existing system has not responded adequately to challenges including climate change and environmental pressures. His government has said that its future ten-year plan will set out proposals for stronger public control over essential utilities.
Recent reports indicate that one option under consideration is the creation of nine regional water authorities. These bodies could involve mayors, council leaders and industry experts and would oversee regional water companies while operating alongside a national regulator.
Importantly, this does not necessarily mean immediate full nationalisation of every water company. The exact structure remains an area of political and policy debate.
6. A Major Expansion of Council Housing
Housing is another central element of Burnham’s agenda.
He has promised what he describes as the biggest council-house building programme since the post-war period. The broader philosophy is that increasing the supply of affordable housing could reduce pressure on the welfare system while providing greater security for households.
Burnham has previously argued that housing should be treated as a foundation for wider social and economic policy.
His government has also discussed a Housing First approach, inspired partly by Finland, in which stable accommodation is regarded as an important starting point for addressing wider social problems.
The scale of such a programme would depend heavily on funding, planning rules, land availability and the ability of councils and housing providers to deliver new homes.
7. A New Approach to Technical Education
Education could also undergo a major transformation.
Burnham has argued that Britain should place greater value on technical education, apprenticeships and practical skills alongside traditional academic routes. Under proposals announced by the government, pupils from the age of 14 could gain earlier access to technical education, work experience and links with employers.
The government says schools, colleges, employers and regional leaders should work together to create clearer pathways into skilled employment.
This represents a change in emphasis rather than an attempt to eliminate university education. The stated objective is to create a broader range of respected routes into adult life and employment.
For businesses, the policy could also help address shortages of skilled workers by connecting education more closely with regional economic needs.
8. More Accessible Mental-Health Services
Burnham has also placed mental health within his wider programme of public-service reform.
His government has promised to prioritise more accessible, community-based mental-health services.
The idea is to make support available closer to where people live rather than relying exclusively on more specialised or hospital-based services.
This approach would require investment in local services, trained staff and coordination between health, social care and community organisations. Its implementation would therefore depend not only on legislation but also on funding and the capacity of the NHS and local services.
9. Regional Industrial Strategies
The ninth major area is economic development.
Burnham wants different regions to develop industrial strategies based on their individual strengths. Instead of applying a single economic model across the entire country, regional authorities would identify industries with growth potential and work with universities, businesses and other institutions to support them.
The government has linked this approach to reindustrialisation, innovation and support for start-ups and growing companies.
This also connects directly to the role of Number 10 North. The objective is to give regions more responsibility for developing their own economic futures while coordinating national investment.
A Wider Transformation of Government
Taken together, these nine proposals demonstrate that Burnham’s agenda is not limited to individual laws. The wider project is about changing how Britain is governed.
Devolution is at the centre of the programme. The government wants more decisions to be made outside Westminster, while regional authorities could gain greater responsibilities for transport, housing, skills, economic development and public services. The House of Lords Library has identified devolution as one of the defining themes of Burnham’s legislative agenda.
At the same time, some of the proposals remain at an early stage. A number of them will require legislation, detailed funding arrangements or further consultation before they can become operational.
The promised ten-year plan is therefore likely to be important because it should provide greater detail about the government’s long-term intentions.
For Britain, the potential consequences are substantial. If the proposals are implemented, local government could gain greater influence over areas that have traditionally been controlled from Westminster. Transport, water, housing, education and economic development could all become more regionally focused.
The key questions will concern cost, implementation and accountability. Giving regions more power also means deciding how that power should be monitored and how differences between regions should be managed.
Burnham’s programme therefore represents more than a collection of nine individual reforms. It is an attempt to change the balance between central government and the regions while reshaping the way public services and economic development are organised.
The coming months should provide a clearer picture of which proposals become legislation, which are modified during the parliamentary process and which remain longer-term ambitions. Until then, the nine announced areas provide an important indication of the direction in which Burnham’s government intends to take Britain.
