'Manchesterism' is building a better politics and a strong economy. The whole country should be inspired | Andy Burnham

The Guardian OpinionEditor

January 22, 2026 | 5:18 PM•1 min read

Originally published on The Guardian Opinion

'Manchesterism' is building a better politics and a strong economy. The whole country should be inspired | Andy Burnham

We are the fastest-growing city-region economy in the UK, proof that it is possible to use public funds effectively while reducing crisis spending

Andy Burnham is the mayor of Greater Manchester

At the weekend, Zia Yusuf posted: “After 7 May 2026, Reform will accept no more Tories.” In other words: all you failed MPs and councillors have a full three and a half months to decide at your leisure whether or not to leave the sinking ship.

Taking on politicians from the party that governed Britain for more than a decade and broke it is hardly the stuff of a political insurgency. Suddenly, Britain’s newest political force doesn’t look quite so potent or relevant. Instead, it seems old.

Andy Burnham is the mayor of Greater Manchester. He served as the Labour MP for Leigh from 2001 until 2017