Andy Burnham’s flagship ‘ten-year plan’ hollowed out into yet another lengthy consultation: ‘What plan?’

Speaking to the Commons in September, Mr Burnham insisted it would “set out plans for stronger public control over these essentials, making them work for people and places again”.

However, the long-promised plan will now consist of a single speech before Christmas and the publishing of a document which will be “slimmer than expected”, the New Statesman reports.

The plan’s announcement is expected to be followed by a six to nine-month-long consultation, rather than establishing what exact measures ministers will take and how the measures will be funded.

The looming consultation will follow the publishing of a first draft plan; this is before it will be unveiled in full at some time next year.

Mr Burnham told ITV News: “It’s going to come at the end of this year. You’re talking 2027 to 2037, so it’s way beyond this Parliament.”

On the steps of Downing Street in July, Mr Burnham used his first speech as Prime Minister to declare his 10-year plan will take Britain “from where we are now to where we all want Britain to be”.

Despite not yet being published, it is expected to contain a number of key themes, including reindustrialisation, devolution, infrastructure expansion and lowering the cost of living.

At PMQs on Wednesday, Tory Deputy Leader Alex Burghart mocked the proposals as he exchanged barbs with First Secretary of State Louise Haigh, who filled in for Mr Burnham while he is away in the Caribbean for a meeting of Commonwealth leaders.

Mr Burghart said: “It’s been briefed, however, that the Prime Minister is preparing a 10-year plan.

“I’m old enough to remember Keir Starmer’s 10-year plan because it was six months ago. This is the only political party in history to have two 10-year plans in 10 months.

“But given that the Labour Party is experimenting with planning, can it commit to reduce this record welfare bill, the highest welfare bill ever, as part of its 10-year plan?”

Ms Haigh clapped back: “The Honourable Gentleman can ask me the same question four or five times and I’m going to keep answering in the same way.

“We are taking steps already to bring the welfare bill down and we’ll take further, we’ve committed to legislate.

“But every week the opposition party comes and brings the same problems with the same messes that we inherited on welfare, on defence, on immigration, on the economy.

“This Labour Government is committed to tackling it all and no matter what he brings we are taking steps to deliver all of it.”

Speaking to the People’s Channel earlier this year, Trade Unions Congress General Secretary Paul Nowak suggested the Prime Minister could call a general election after publishing his 10-year plan.

Speaking on Chopper’s Political Podcast, Mr Nowak said: “I don’t think that the public are battering down Andy Burnham’s door in Downing Street, saying, ‘Let’s have a general election’. We’ve got to get through the first Budget.

“Let’s see Andy’s 10-year plan. He might decide, actually, ‘I’ve not got enough room within the manifesto to deliver the change that I think we need to see.'”

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