Andy Burnham is contesting the Makerfield by-election on 18 June 2026 with his sights set on Downing Street. Brevia, a public relations and public affairs agency, has assessed Burnham’s emerging policy platform and what it could mean for businesses. If your company would appreciate a briefing on the implications for your organisation, get in touch with the Brevia team today.
With the Makerfield by-election days away, Andy Burnham has positioned himself as the emblem of a bolder, more interventionist Labour project. While a Burnham premiership requires him to first win the seat and then a leadership contest, it is a credible scenario, and Brevia has analysed what businesses should be prepared for.
What Policies Burnham Has Signalled So Far
Due to the length of time Burnham has been out of Westminster, as well as the Makerfield campaign predominantly being fought on local issues,[1] it is understandable that Burnham has articulated few national policy announcements during the campaign. Instead, Burnham’s platform has been deliberately calibrated to appeal across the Labour movement. It has been reported Josh Simons (who resigned his Makerfield seat), and Miatta Fahnbulleh MP have been working on the prospective Burnham policy platform,[2] themselves representing two different ‘wings’ of the Labour movement.
Notable policy signals have included Burnham’s reversal on early indications that he could seek to undo the Brexit referendum,[3] his commitment to Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ fiscal rules,[4] and signalled continuity on immigration[5] and defence,[6] in what appears to be an aim to reassure the bond markets and the parliamentary party simultaneously.
In other parts of domestic policy, the direction of travel appears more interventionist. Key signals include:
- Social Housing and Investment: £39 billion reallocation toward social housing, delivered through regional banks and public financing vehicles; [7]
- Aggressive Fiscal Devolution: Burnham has been a long-time advocate of further fiscal devolution, including allowing councils to levy a tourist tax;[8]
- Northern Arc Supercluster: a revival of the ‘Northern Arc’ supercluster connecting Liverpool and Manchester in a similar style to the Oxford Cambridge Growth Corridor.[9] This includes a revival of the northern leg of HS2 (Birmingham to Manchester);[10]
- Public Control & Renationalisation: a stated ambition to bring energy, water, housing and transport under greater public control;[11]
- Business Rates Reform: Burnham issued a press release pledging to review the NIC increase, and cut business rates for pubs, clubs and music venues. Under his proposals, they would receive a 20 per cent cut next year, while smaller, independent hospitality, leisure and retail companies would have the threshold for paying business rates raised for the first time since 2017, taking many outside the scope of the tax;[12]
- Council Tax Reform: Burnham has criticised the current council tax system as ‘highly regressive’ and hinted he could introduce a land value tax system;[13]
- High Street Rejuvenation: Burnham has pledged to further enhance the high street, partially through clamping down on illegal stores and vape shops.[14]
How Businesses Should Position Themselves
Burnham has been careful to signal continuity on the big fiscal and security questions. However, there is likely to be a gradual rebalancing of who government favours as delivery partners, where funding settlements go, and who gets fiscal power. For example, his pro-British procurement stance,[15] echoing recent announcements from both the Chancellor and former Defence Secretary John Healey, signal that demonstrating UK employment and supply chain commitments may become increasingly important for businesses seeking public contracts.
Furthermore, financial market anxieties regarding Burnham’s openness to borrowing mean businesses should prepare for macroeconomic volatility. A rise in long-term gilt yields increases the cost of capital for major projects. Any policy decisions which lead to higher costs of government borrowing will trickle down to how government departments engage with businesses.
Speak to Brevia
Brevia is monitoring the Makerfield result and its implications closely. If your organisation needs an in-depth briefing on what a potential change in Labour leadership could mean for your sector, contact our team on 020 7091 1650 or contact@brevia.co.uk
BREVIA CONSULTING PROVIDES STRAIGHTFORWARD POLITICAL ADVICE AND SUPPORT TO BUSINESSES AND CHARITIES
[1] POLITICO, Andy Burnham goes hyper-local as Makerfield vote looms, 11 June 2026, link
[2] The Guardian, Who are Andy Burnham’s key aides and allies?, 23 May 2026, link
[3] BBC News, Burnham pledges not to ‘re-run’ Brexit arguments, 18 May 2026, link
[4] BBC News, Faisal Islam: Burnham seeks to calm markets by committing to fiscal rules, 18 May 2026, link
[5] The Guardian, ‘I wouldn’t flinch’: Burnham on social care, markets, Brexit – and the prospect of a general election, 4 June 2026, link
[6] BBC News, British firms to be favoured in defence spending, 9 June 2026, link
[7] Financial Times, Burnham aims to boost social housing if he becomes prime minister, 5 June 2026, link
[8] Re:State, England Needs Tourist Taxes, 15 October 2025, link
[9] GMCA, ‘Northern Arc’ linked by Liverpool-Manchester Railway could match Oxford-Cambridge growth potential, 12 March 2025, link
[10] The I Paper, Andy Burnham: I’ll resurrect HS2 from Birmingham to Manchester, 15 June 2026, link
[11] The Guardian, Andy Burnham says Labour must put energy and water under public control, 16 May 2026, link
[12] The Guardian, Burnham pledges to review NICs increase and cut business rates for pubs, 5 June 2026, link
[13] LabourList, What would Andy Burnham do if he becomes Prime Minister?, 11 June 2026, link
[14] Mirror, Andy Burnham pledges high street crackdown with blitz on dodgy shops and illegal e-bikes, 10 June 2026, link
[15] BBC News, British firms to be favoured in defence spending, 9 June 2026, link
