Andy Burnham's Strategy for Business and Sustainability

Andy Burnham has been appointed as the UK's seventh prime minister in 10 years, moving into 10 Downing Street after being elected leader of the Labour Party last week.

The MP for Makerfield previously held cabinet positions as Secretary of State for Health and Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport during Gordon Brown's tenure as Prime Minister between 2007 and 2010.

His political standing with UK voters and Labour Party members strengthened during nine years serving as Mayor of Greater Manchester from May 2017 to June 2026 in Northwest England.

This increased support enabled him to replace Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister.

Regional transport infrastructure investment

During his mayoralty, Andy led efforts to return Greater Manchester's bus services to public control, with his administration capping fares and initiating a major programme to replace diesel buses with zero-emission electric alternatives for a London-style transit system.

He backed substantial investment in active travel infrastructure, expanding walking, wheeling and cycling routes across the region to promote zero-carbon commuting options.

Greater Manchester partnered with GMCA and SUEZ to open the Renew Hub in Trafford Park, which operates as the UK's largest waste reuse and repair centre. The facility saves tens of thousands of items from landfill annually through repair and resale programmes, while providing green skills training opportunities.

Andy's team launched large-scale retrofitting programmes for public buildings and social housing to improve insulation standards and reduce energy consumption across the region.

He established the Energy Innovation Agency and introduced Local Area Energy Plans to expand green energy capacity throughout Greater Manchester.

The Greater Manchester Environment Fund was created during his tenure to support nature recovery, carbon offset projects, peatland restoration and local biodiversity initiatives across the city region.

Greater Manchester received inclusion on the global Carbon Disclosure Project A List for climate leadership and local policy implementation.

Business policy direction expectations

Andy Burnham could maintain many policies from the Labour Party's 2024 General Election manifesto, although some observers believe he might introduce new proposals for North Sea drilling operations.

Keir Starmer implemented a ban on new North Sea oil, gas and coal exploration licenses while managing a phased transition for existing permits, with fracking banned permanently.

According to The Guardian, specific arrangements could allow new drilling without breaking the manifesto commitment, though this could create tension with some Labour Party members and climate campaigners.

The primary discussion centres on two sites, Rosebank and Jackdaw, located off Scotland's north-east coast.

In June 2025 while serving as Mayor, Andy supported a proposed international agreement to phase out coal, oil and gas, calling it a "lifeline" that "all governments" should join. In a video about the treaty, he stated: "There should be no turning away from net-zero".

Labour secured electoral victory by committing to zero-carbon electricity generation by 2030, pledging to double onshore wind capacity, triple solar power output and quadruple offshore wind by 2030.

The party plans to reform planning rules and grid connections to accelerate green infrastructure development and attract private sector capital.

Energy sector growth opportunities

Since the 2024 election, the UK government under Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has established a publicly owned energy company in Scotland that invests directly in renewable and emerging clean technologies through partnerships with private sector entities.

Andy Burnham's support for devolving decision-making authority to UK regions could help secure GB Energy funding for community energy projects working with local authorities and co-operatives.

Rosie Downes, Head of Campaigns at Friends of the Earth, says ahead of his official appointment as Prime Minister: "Since winning Makerfield, Andy Burnham has repeatedly acknowledged that his rise to power is Labour's final chance to rebuild trust with voters who are demanding change they can feel in their immediate lives."

"But he must not make the same mistake as his predecessor by failing to communicate – and at times recognise – how solutions for tackling the climate and nature crises underpin any strategy for easing hardship, raising living standards and building a fairer, greener Britain."

"In the midst of an unprecedented summer of deadly heat, anything short of rejecting disastrous projects like Rosebank, Jackdaw and a third runway at Heathrow, and failing to bring forward an all-encompassing fracking ban, would see the new Prime Minister turning his back on precisely the communities he has sworn to help. He must stand firm or risk undermining his credibility straight out of the gate."

Industrial competitiveness and investment

Rosie notes transport policy applications at national scale: "We've seen the success he had as Greater Manchester Mayor in increasing bus use through affordable fares – this is something he should replicate nationally by introducing a £1 (US$1.31) bus fare cap."

She outlines additional priorities: "Alongside this, lowering energy bills through cheap, homegrown renewable power and a new social tariff to help those on the lowest incomes, bringing water back into public ownership so we're no longer paying through the nose just for water companies to trash our rivers and seas, and ensuring he follows through with concrete action on Palestine – including a full arms embargo on Israel and a trade ban with illegal settlements – should all be top of his priority list."

Jane Gaston, CEO of Net Zero North West, one of the region's leading voices on industrial growth, investment and the clean-energy transition, believes Andy's appointment presents an opportunity to position northern industrial capabilities at the centre of national economic policy. "Andy Burnham's appointment as Prime Minister is a significant moment for the North of England," she says.

"Throughout his time as Mayor of Greater Manchester, he has consistently championed the role of regional leadership in driving economic growth, investment and regeneration.

There is now an opportunity to bring that same understanding of place to national policy," she explains.

Jane referenced research demonstrating regional economic value: "Our recent Why Industry Matters report demonstrates just how strategically important the North West is to the UK's future prosperity.

As one of the country's largest industrial regions, the North West is already leading the way in advanced manufacturing, energy, chemicals and low-carbon innovation. Building on those strengths will be essential if the UK is to improve productivity, strengthen energy resilience and remain internationally competitive."

"The region has the expertise, industrial capability and collaborative partnerships needed to deliver the next phase of the UK's clean-energy transition.

What businesses need now is confidence that long-term policy will match long-term investment decisions. Stable policy, faster infrastructure delivery and continued support for industrial decarbonisation will help unlock private investment and ensure opportunities are realised at pace," she concluded.