Labour MPs press Burnham for stronger industrial measures in 10-year plan

Labour MPs are urging Andy Burnham to strengthen his forthcoming 10-year government plan, warning that preparations so far have offered insufficient detail on reversing Britain’s industrial decline. Members of the Reindustrialisation Research Group, known as ReRG, are due to meet Cabinet Office minister Sally Jameson on Wednesday, November 11, to press their concerns about the strategy’s scope and ambition.

Many of the group’s MPs represent former industrial constituencies, including red wall seats that contributed to Labour’s landslide election victory in 2024. They argue that heavy industries are struggling under high energy costs and inadequate government backing, and want the plan to contain concrete measures to support manufacturing. Their unease reflects broader doubts within parts of Labour about whether the document will meet the expectations Burnham has created.

ReRG leader Andy MacNae said ministerial engagement had been positive, but briefings had not shown how the government intended to address gaps in its approach to rebuilding industry. Without stronger proposals, he warned, industrial decline could continue. Fellow group member Jonathan Hinder said political messaging was insufficient and that the government had yet to demonstrate the scale of action required.

Burnham has presented the plan as the central statement of his ambitions in office. Its priorities include placing utilities under public control, cutting bills and creating a national care service. MPs had expected publication before the end of the year, but the prime minister said last week that it might instead appear in January. He has also indicated that industry will be central to his economic programme, while chancellor John Healey promised renewed industrialisation at this year’s Labour conference.

The group argues that those commitments need stronger policy backing. Before the budget, it asked Healey to widen the British industrial competitiveness scheme, which lowers energy costs for approximately 10,000 businesses. The budget included a £100 council tax rebate intended to help households meet winter energy bills, but contained no announced changes to that business scheme.

ReRG members now want Burnham’s plan to offer immediate assistance with industrial energy bills, establish a minister for reindustrialisation and give No 10 North in Manchester responsibility for overseeing the programme. Some MPs say recent ministerial briefings have instead suggested a limited document followed by an extended consultation. They also say responsibility for drafting it remains unclear.

Peter Hyman, a former adviser to Keir Starmer on his missions, is reportedly overseeing the writing, although officials maintain that Burnham will take the principal decisions. MPs have also questioned the participation of Boston Consulting Group, which previously employed the prime minister’s chief of staff, James Purnell. Downing Street says the company is supplying just one consultant to assist.

Burnham has rejected suggestions that the plan’s significance is being overstated. Speaking to the Economist last week, he described briefings playing down its importance as inaccurate and said the document would bring together his priorities into a substantial vision for Britain. He has maintained that its proposals will be more radical than many expect.