Angela Rayner launches pitch to lead Burnham’s devolution revolution

Angela Rayner has launched her pitch to lead Andy Burnham’s devolution revolution, arguing we "need to change politics” and "give people back control so we can fix the economy”. In her first major speech since Sir Keir Starmer announced his resignation, Labour’s former deputy leader – who is expected to return to government when Andy Burnham takes over as prime minister – argued that “too many decisions affecting the many are made ”, accusing “Whitehall empires” of “hoarding their own power”. Setting out her backing for a “devolution revolution”, just two days after Mr Burnham set out his vision for a decade-long plan to transform Britain, Ms Rayner warned the government against “tinkering around the edges of the system”, saying governments of the past have “too often been afraid” of major structural change to the state. Too many decisions affecting the many are made .” Ms Rayner also talked up her own credentials in spearheading the Devolution Act, which passed in April and transfers powers away from central government in Westminster to local authorities, regions, and communities across England. “There was institutional resistance to fiscal devolution throughout my time in office. But we have shown it can be overcome”, she said. “The Devolution Act gives all mayors London-style planning powers – a new framework that can be expanded and built upon... The act is the beginning, not the end, of breaking away from the command and control culture of Whitehall that has held us back for too long. She added: “The devolution revolution has hit the ground running. But it will only reach its full potential if central government changes too, with No 10 driving it as a core mission; and local government supported as the foundation on which devolution is built. “This needs a much deeper cultural change across Whitehall and the scale of that challenge can’t be underestimated.” open image in gallery Rayner resigned last year over her tax affairs (Getty) Ms Rayner is an ally of Mr Burnham’s, having criticised Sir Keir for initially blocking his return to Westminster at the Gorton and Denton by-election last year. While she was previously seen as a potential leadership candidate herself, she has been firmly on the sidelines in recent weeks, sparking questions over whether she would be given a cabinet role in a new Labour government. But her latest intervention suggests she has her sights set on a role in Mr Burnham’s radical plan for devolution.