PM frontrunner Burnham says imbalance across UK govt 'holding back growth'

The frontrunner to become Britain's next prime minister, Andy Burnham, vowed in a keynote speech Monday to "bring about the biggest rebalancing of power the country has seen" if he succeeds Keir Starmer.

Burnham, currently the only candidate to replace Starmer as Labour leader and prime minister, pledged to devolve greater powers to regional mayors, including in Manchester where until recently he was in charge. Delivering his speech from a Manchester museum, Burnham described Britain as "one of the most over-centralised countries in the world".

Should the veteran Labour politician continue to face no challengers to become prime minister, the former minister and Greater Manchester could be in the post as early as mid-July.