90 Labour MPs warn Burnham that industrial plan fails without Manchester HQ

More than 90 Labour backbench members of Parliament issued a warning on Sunday that Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s reindustrialisation pledge will likely fail unless the strategy is coordinated directly from his Manchester office, No 10 North. The group’s briefing paper argues that the government currently lacks the necessary institutional capacity to execute a comprehensive industrial rebuild.

The paper contends that decades of deindustrialisation and deregulation have left the state with diminished knowledge of the economy and business operations. It describes the current administrative approach as slow to decide and unable to plan comprehensively. The MPs are calling for the passage of a Reindustrialisation Act to establish clear job creation targets and hold ministers accountable for meeting them.

The group specifically recommends that First Secretary Louise Haigh oversee the initiative from No 10 North. Burnham established this Manchester outpost in July, and it has already assumed some responsibilities for growth policy. The MPs also propose transforming the National Wealth Fund into a Reindustrialisation Development Corporation. This new body would focus primarily on providing capital to rebuild the United Kingdom’s industrial base.

Andy MacNae, the MP for Rossendale and Darwen, chairs the group. He stated that while he trusts the commitment of Burnham and Chancellor John Healey, the civil service exhibits a persistent inertia. MacNae noted that economic orthodoxy often prioritizes growth in already prosperous cities rather than delivering jobs to areas that need them most. He emphasized that reindustrialisation must also ensure the country can produce goods that provide national resilience.

Steve Yemm, MP for Mansfield, added that global competitors are actively reindustrialising while officials in Whitehall still view industrial policy as outdated. He urged the Prime Minister to challenge these assumptions. Lorraine Beavers, MP for Blackpool North and Fleetwood, expressed enthusiasm for the potential benefits to her constituency but cautioned that Whitehall only acts when explicitly directed to do so.

The Labour Party’s industrial strategy, published during Keir Starmer’s tenure, identified eight sectors for growth, including advanced manufacturing, clean energy, and defence. Healey, who is scheduled to deliver his first budget on Wednesday, promised a new age of industrialisation during his conference speech last month. He cited the goal of achieving good growth in every postcode through good work and jobs.

The briefing paper highlights the government’s recent decision to nationalise British Steel as a key example of the policy shift. The group asserts that the effort spans multiple areas, including procurement and education. The MPs insist that without a dedicated command center in Manchester and a clear legal framework, the administration cannot achieve its stated objectives.