What could an Andy Burnham premiership mean for constitutional reform? 

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As Andy Burnham begins his attempt to reach 10 Downing Street via Makerfield, Tom Fleming – the Constitution Unit’s new Deputy Director – discusses how a change of Prime Minister might change the government’s approach to constitutional reform.

The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has been confirmed as the Labour Party’s candidate for the upcoming Makerfield by-election. If he were to win – which is far from guaranteed – he is widely expected to launch a bid to replace Keir Starmer as Labour leader and Prime Minister. This has sparked much discussion of what a hypothetical Burnham premiership might look like. While he has not yet laid out a detailed agenda for government, Burnham’s past comments show an interest in significant constitutional reform. So what kind of reform agenda has he suggested, how would it differ from the current government’s approach, and what practical and political considerations might it raise?

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The revolving-door premiership

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Manoeuvres to replace a Prime Minister are yet again afoot. In his first blogpost as the Constitution Unit’s new Director, Alan Renwick examines the increasing volatility at the top of British politics. Changes in the occupant of Number 10 between elections are normal. But current methods for filling vacancies are inadequate. And rapid turnover is a symptom of deeper troubles. Addressing those troubles will require fundamental shifts in our political culture.

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The Scottish Parliament elections and the constitution: what do the manifestos say?

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Elections for the Scottish Parliament take place today. The major parties contesting the election have all published manifestos setting out their policies: they contain numerous proposals to alter the devolution settlement or seek independence, change how parliament operates, improve democratic engagement, and reform standards and operations at the centre of government. In this post, Dave Busfield-Birch explains what changes have been proposed.  

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Improving government in Northern Ireland: towards a programme for reform

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The Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly are under fire for their record in delivering public policy and services. In a new working paper published as a Constitution Unit report today, Alan Whysall argues that their under-performance threatens the stability of the 1998 Belfast/Good Friday Agreement settlement. Specific measures to improve matters have been little discussed. The paper – Improving Government in Northern Ireland – offers an agenda for early debate on such measures. The debate must have a clear and urgent purpose – to develop a programme of effective potential changes well before the May 2027 Assembly elections, when the performance of the institutions is likely to be an issue. 

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