It is best if a PM does not lie, does not set out unachievable aims and targets, and thinks through policies to ensure effectiveness and compatibility with what government is already doing. Yesterday’s Council in the North to get City region Mayors to jump start growth is set to fail.
Much of the country does not have City Mayors. There are none in the south outside London. How do these unrepresented areas compete? Why were they not invited to the Council in the North?
The City Mayors we do have already bid for funds and have more freedom over how to spend public money. There is no evidence this has speeded their growth. We are told this will be different. Mayors will say what they need and national government will respond instead of national government offering cash and policy ideas for them to take up. I doubt there will be much difference in practice.
We are told there will be a revolution in how much power is devolved. I bet there will be no such thing. Today in the crucial area of planning and local plans central government rides roughshod over them when it wishes. There is no likelihood of Burnham allowing Mayors or Councils to set their own housing targets or to determine if they house illegal migrants .These are crucial decisions where local people want change and influence over the outcomes.
As they rummage around for a new tax to indulge Mayoral spending habits they settle on a tourist tax . So Mayors will tax your holiday and try to put you off a break or staycation in their places. Another upwards twist to the cost of living. Killjoy policies.
July 25, 2026
“City Region Mayors will create division and fail to extend prosperity to every postcode.”
Nor hope in every heart quite the reverse. Taking money off the people and businesses that made and own it obviously kills growth and strangles the future tax base. Then we have the huge collection & distribution costs then it goes to certain local governments (many elements of which totally misguided (net zero, road blocking, DEI… ) and many even blatantly corrupt). Does Burnham real think giving more money and power to people like Kahn, Drakeford, Sturgeon… is a good plan.
When will Burnham address the real issues like the mass legal and illegal immigration, the absurd decisions of so may of our left two tier police and judges, law and order, reducing the size of the state, scrapping the net zero expensive energy lunacy and DEI, make real use of Brexit, clipping the wings of the dire BBC state propaganda outfit.
This rather than lying about taking 5% of our “energy bills”. As electricity bills are only about 20% of total energy use (and anyway it is not 5% but 5/1.05 % of electricity) the real figure off energy bills is under 1% so is Burnham a liar, fool or just an innumerate English graduate? Note also the ability to remove this VAT is only possible with Brexit which he want to reverse.
July 25, 2026
‘ When will Burnham address the real issues …’
He will probably give those a swerve for as long as possible. However there is an article in The Spectator, which is not usually Labour- friendly, that suggests Burnham is doing OK so far.
It suggests Burnham has done so by appearing upbeat and having a can-do message. Starmer was stiff and negative – emphasising the magnitude of the issues.
It could be initial relief amongst those polled after the stench of Starmer of course. It may buy time. Burnham may be better at initiating friendly coverage of his leadership too.
‘Voters are buying what Burnham is selling’ Tim Shipman
July 25, 2026
After importing up to 25% of our electricity all week at an average of £125 per mwh today because sunny and windy, exporting at £12 per mwh. Is this what Boris meant when he said we’d be the Saudi Arabia of wind power.
July 25, 2026
The reason people want overseas holiday is not just that the weather is more reliable and the sea is warmer but also they are often far cheaper – due to vast over taxation, high fuel costs, minimum wage increases and regulation in the UK of hotels, tourism facilities and restaurants. Hotel prices have risen hugely in the last few years also due to the “small” boat people taking up lots of the hotel capacity.
July 25, 2026
Agree
We rent a large 3 bedroom detached villa with a large terrace, heated pool, air-conditioning, with wonderful views over the mountains and grape vines for £1,000 per week in the South of France.
Similar would cost at least 3-4 times that in the UK.
The local Village bar charges 2 Euro’s for a glass of wine, or 3 Euro’s for a good sized glass of punch.
Supermarkets a little cheaper than here.
Yes we travel on Toll Roads, (an extra expense) but the road surfaces are superb, with nowhere near as much traffic congestion.
Last house rented in the UK earlier this year £1500, but no pool, or air conditioning, and certainly no spectacular views, local pub £9.00 for a glass of wine.
July 25, 2026
Indeed and £9 for rather dire wine too. The pubs are so highly taxed many have to do this.
July 25, 2026
It is strange that inward tourism is steaily increasing. North America is one of the drivers according to VistBritain. I suspect the Americans are keen to see what’s left of traditional Britain before it vanishes for good and others are morbidly fascinated by the suicidal polices of successive governments, both Labour and Tory, elected by a majority of the people. People with a death wish for their country are a rarity, but the British do seem to suffer from this. A world curiosity.
July 25, 2026
Labour were already planning to put mayor’s in charge of their rearranged councils all over England. As a result, we are likely to get more idiots with their own self importance like Burnham wasting taxpayer’s money.
July 25, 2026
Adding another combative layer to government such as muddling mayors is a sign of bungling Burnham going the wrong way.
July 25, 2026
The one thing successive PMs have filed to grasp is the this. The size of the cake to be divided is more important than the rules surrounding who gets what piece.
The economy could be so much bigger and individual wealth so much greater if policies focused on wealth creation had been championed rather than how the stored/ existing wealth should be divided up.
The oil and gas industry is one of our great natural gifts that would enable wealth to increase if it was accessed but successive governments have failed to do that simple thing.
We have to junk the Net Zero legislation and get back to rational practical energy policies that allow wealth to grow or we are destined to continue down the road to poverty.
July 25, 2026
I see nothing as been said about electing a New Mayor of Manchester , so hopefully when there is one Liebour/Tories/Lib dems won’t get a look in leaving job for Reform
July 25, 2026
Diversity is far too expensive an ideology when it comes to adding mayors into the bureaucratic political mangle.
It is doubtful that extra mayors will be able to provide what the people ask for simply because of the cost. Initially there may be extra money to fund vanity projects but that will soon dry up as central government takes stock of debt levels and runs out of millionaires to tax.
It’s one thing to be driven by popular choice as regards where the money is spent but at the end of the day as less money becomes available these expensive mayoral setups will have to make the tough decisions, and they will be the target of some very angry people when they fail, when public services money is diverted and rubbish collection becomes mired in strikes.
Is Burnham really expecting that Westminster simply agree with requests for money from mayors and continue to fund their choices without any real budgeting?
July 25, 2026
It is one socialist / statist gimmick after another from burnham. Like all leftists he seems to think growth comes from layers of government spending other peoples’ money. He will be the same directionally as Starmer but worse, as the ‘change’ and departure from ‘neoliberalism of the last 40 years’ (what on Earth is he talking about?!) will just mean more state spending. We are in for a summer of speculation over potential tax rises, any and all of which will be damaging given the current record level of tax/gdp.
There is an urgent need to unite the right to ensure Labour are defeated at the next election.
July 25, 2026
There is one part of devolution still missing after 28 years. It’s not manufactured mayors for towns and cities.
It’s recognition and equality for England by the creation of an English parliament.
Burnham, like all those since Blair’s partial devolution, want to chop England up, destroy our identity and force us to become a multicultural nonentity.
July 25, 2026
More layers of government is not the answer.
We already have highly paid chief executives of local councils who should be delivering what regional Mayors are going to be tasked with.
Perhaps if Mayors are to be introduced the local councils can be dispensed with. Create one withdraw one.
However if localism is the way to go then local councillors are closer than regional Mayors so these are the ones to keep.
Regional Mayors are an excess. More government is never the answer
July 25, 2026
Of course they will fail… For the same reason so-called devaluation failed. The UK Parliament is to fearful to hand over powers to anyone but themselves, to fearful that others close to were the need is will get a grip and be successful. The UK Parliament after 40years of EU brainwashing believes its job is that of ‘local council’ as such local needs must run to a defined Politburo diktat.
Mean while the bigger picture, the things that require external agreements and negotiations, along with the coordination of the bigger national infrastructure also fail. Because the UK Parliament hasn’t the time to be bothered. Local wage deals negotiated by central command and control. Local infrastructure is a central command and control situation as it is central command that holds the purse strings.
July 25, 2026
The EU defined England as consisting of 9 regions, with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland being the other British EU regions, making 12 in total. The 9 English regions correspond to the mayoralties to which, most being Labour controlled, Burnham wants to devolve more power. Burnham’s plan is actually to administer Britain as if it were a member of the EU, by-passing Westminster. He is aligning the governance structure of UK with that of the EU. By this means Britain can in effect be governed by the EU relating directly to the British regions.
July 25, 2026
Indeed. The city mayors are a way of imposing outside agendas, especially the UN net zero agenda and ‘smart cities’.
The cynical propaganda claim is that they will bring people ‘closer to power’, but in fact they will allow power to bear down more closely on people.
July 25, 2026
@Peter Gardner – if only our central command and control parliament did embrace devaluation then it would all make sense. This UK Parliament lives in fear of democracy and the people.
It is clear that the greater majority of things that need to happen is completely different in different regions even then the best people to get a grip and make things happen are those that things affect. The UK Parliament cant get passed the difference between the needs of the nation as a whole and the needs of the multitude of different areas of the country It is a command and control Parliament a one size fit all Parliament.
We have counties we only need Mayors were the people in that County feels the need it should never be a Central Command and Control Parliament that dictates. The money that the UK Parliament uses to blackmail different areas with should not be centrally dispersed particularly those with very personal agendas like this PM. In fact I would suggest go the ‘whole hog’ treat the counties as the USA treats its States.
A long and involved situation that needs massive simplification, of which Mayors run by a Central Command & Control Parliament, for their money and their orders has no place while pretending to be a democracy.
The EU legacy of corruption still dominates with an interpretative democracy that embellishes the few and punishes the majority
July 25, 2026
He’s following the EU idea of destroying England’s identity. (not Scotland, Wales and N.Ireland though. Oh no! we’ll leave those nations alone)
July 25, 2026
The English regions were first defined in the 1940s (and therefore were nothing to do with the EU). I suggest some reading on Standard Regions, their history and purpose.
July 25, 2026
Funny thing is that divided Russia into 12 regions as well. Allocated names and flags.
You would think that the British would have more sympathy for Russia, our old ally still fighting the modern Axis powers.
Perhaps we don’t have because we surrendered and are jealous?
July 25, 2026
These Socialists, the UK Parliament, want Mayors to handle their diktats, while at the same time seeking to control and manipulate county councils by breaking them up. The old adage of if ‘its not broke’ to a socialist means ‘break it’.
How in all sanity did Manchester become separate from Lancashire? And how did London manage to steal big chunks of Middlesex, Essex, Kent and Surrey when they were all working well before?
Manchester’s’ fabulous ‘B’ Line as with Transport for London can’t survive without money being stolen from general taxation. money that should go on defence, infrastructure the creating of resilience and self-reliance.
What was wrong with ‘London Transport’? that needed millions spent just redressing the same old, same old image. The UK Parliament stealing once more!
The UK Parliament is stuffed full of personal ‘egos’. I am the power so I will change things to reflect my personal image. That’s their socialism in a ‘nutshell’ everyone has to be in ‘my’ personal image. Not one in Parliament says or asks the question if we do this, we will get that and in doing so improve situations at less cost. The UK Parliament has fallen into a trend that the Country and the People’s needs are identical everywhere, and what suits Socialist Metro West London is the template without deviation for the whole Nation.
July 25, 2026
All of this ‘No,10 of the north’ stuff is a scam he has been brought in by the deep state because Starmer didn’t suit a certain geo-political outlook as we shall see soon enough.
He reminds me of Tony Blair in the early days and looks to be in a hurry – probably under orders.
July 25, 2026
City regional mayors are further from the people than local councillors ever where …..there first decisions areto build ivory towers and layers of deputies …..the result is more government not less
July 25, 2026
the main thing they will bring is religious mini states, forcing ever more white working class exodus, and the exact opposite of integration. together with massive imports of illegal immigrants. sadly civil war is the most likely outcome.
July 25, 2026
The initial purpose of devolution is to cause chaos, confusion and additional, wasteful spending. The “No. 10 of the North” is also so that the PM and his ministers can avoid Parliamentary scrutiny by being in Manchester rather than in London. But the real purpose is to give power to the “Citizen Smiths” as these people will have the time to attend all the decision-making meetings as they all have the non-jobs in the Civil Service, local government, the hundreds of quangos and thousands of charities. They know the “alarm clock” Brits will not have the time available unless they take time off work and lose pay.
July 25, 2026
More mayors are not the answer; they just equal more costs and more money taken from taxpayers, one way or another.
The way to get growth in every postcode is to cut taxes, both personal and business. There is no greater abomination than the freezing of tax allowances, started by that pathetic pretend conservative, Jeremy Hunt!
Then extended by an even worse Chancellor, Rachel Reeves. I am staggered that more MPs are not constantly raising it as a disgrace in the House of Commons. You can only squeeze an orange until all the juice is out.
Taxpayers have been squeezed to the point where there is no juice/tax left to give!
July 25, 2026
I was sitting on a park bench this week. listening to a bunch of Pakistanis newly arrived in this country. they were making various phonecalls to make the arrangements for almost all of them to get on the NHS waiting list for one condition or another. I conclude this country is stuffed. really really stuffed.
July 25, 2026
When the Burnham government fails we will know who to blame. This will be the 24,927 people who voted for Mr. Burnham in the Makerfield by-election for uniquely they all knew that if he won he would become PM.
July 25, 2026
I thought that was their purpose. And I’m not even joking.
July 25, 2026
When Cameron foisted city mayors on us (Blair-like), Birmingham, under the leadership of its Conservative Leader of the Council, wisely rejected the idea, and voted against. Bristol, desperate for something better than its council, voted for a mayor. On its second mayor, Marvin Rees, all parties and the unions got together to lay on another referendum and rid Bristol of the mayoralty, which the citizens duly did, despite the ballot and the question being kept as secret as the Mayor could manage.
Are we now to have another mayor foisted on us? And Birmingham too?
As I see it, this is a device for pitting the devocrats against the central government. An islamist mayor in every city? No more England, and courtesy of no 10 in the North, no more capital. Blair began the process with his devolution which broke up the Union, and it is now continuing, all to make it easier for the EU to rule a non country.
July 25, 2026
Keith;industrial processes for juice extraction,citrus/deciduous and soft)berried cannot extract 100%.What the process does is extract everything of value until the pips squeak.For 30+yrs we have been processed by successive administrations in the clear objective “to the very last drop”.Burnham and Co are confident that some
juice remains in the fruit store/orchard
July 25, 2026
The BBC reported last December that thirteen unitary councils, including Swindon, Reading and Wokingham Borough Councils, were working to confer powers on a mayoral strategic authority (MSA) within the Thames Valley. I live in the area, but I don’t remember being consulted on this idea by any local political party. MSAs, as set out in the 2024 government white paper, will have powers over transport and local infrastructure, housing, economic development, the environment, and public health, among other areas of ‘competence’ (that word much beloved of the EU). But that means my local unitary council will no longer have those powers. So would there be any point in voting for a party at present council election level? Even if it wins the election, it won’t be able to take any decisions affecting my area, which will be taken by the MSA. In future, will there be only elections at mayoral strategic authority level? I haven’t seen any discussion of this in political circles.
July 25, 2026
Just 103 illegals yesterday …..who cares !!!
July 25, 2026
What do we want any Mayors for? We already have local council Mayors who go round opening fetes and other such nonsense and get a handsome payment for it. Then we have the regional Mayors who do not achieve much as far as I can see or feel. We have elected councillors who keep all the good jobs for their party members so they are not much good. I think we don’t want anybody in charge except ourselves. Let us just earn our crust and do with it what we want. We can have a fund which we have to pay in for road repairs, libraries (which seem on the decline and are turning to kids creches by me), lighting, road cleaning, etc. Then we need a few accountants who aren’t on the fiddle to allocate money for our needs and a few employees to deal with the admin. Simple and what a lot of money we would save for the taxpayer.
July 25, 2026
Whatever the pretext (so far, a very thin one) the upshot will be to transfer wealth from the south to the de-industrialized north which made its money out of industry – and whose canny industrialists certainly did not believe in spreading it equitably among the working population.
July 25, 2026
There also appears to be a question of ‘mandate’, to carry out expenditure without any legitimate cause.
It would also appears the UK Parliament without any democratic approval wants to introduce another tier of puppets for a runaway PM, at cost to the Taxpayer.
The basics, who has defined the costs, and the benefits to the ‘whole’ country and its people.
There is no respect for process democracy and the rule of Law. The UK Parliament created the sentencing act of 2026 that permitted anyone and everyone to get out of jail ahead time. Not many outside of the Socialist Parliament agrees with that Law – but it is a UK Law. Now along comes a PM that basically says ‘stuff the law’, and the right of Parliament to make Laws, I want these releases paused just on a sound-bite whim – his own imperial decree.
July 26, 2026
landvaluetaxcalculator.co.uk might be a good tool to check how much LVT (Land Value Tax) might be for one’s property if such tax is to replace council tax in the not too distant future.
(One has to use two fingers again and again to get to the detailed map with individual properties becoming visible.)