New 'No 10 North' plan will rebalance power in Britain, Burnham promises

One of the biggest rows between Labour backbench MPs and Sir Keir concerned his attempts to cut the welfare bill. Burnham has previously said he wouldn't be "squeamish" about reducing the bill and his speech promised to find cuts in a "way that is fair and lasting", adding: "Where young people need mental health support, that will be provided as part of in-work support." He also said employment support could be devolved to mayors and that more help should be provided through the grassroots organisations that "people trust... rather than going to places that they fear". Former Labour minister Alan Milburn, who served alongside Burnham in the last Labour government, is currently carrying out a review into ways of getting young people into work. Burnham said he was taking his findings seriously and that there needed to be a "complete rethink of how we support the next generation to succeed", adding: "It has to start with the education system." He said that the school system should no longer be focused on university, and promised a greater emphasis on technical education. On tax, he reiterated his plan to change business rates in order to support pubs and high street businesses. "Rather than being a marker of decline, shouldn't we make our high streets the symbols of Britain's renaissance," he said. …