Overview
- At the Labour conference in Liverpool, Burnham presented a person‑centered 'theory of growth' that prioritises stronger public control of energy, water and housing and greater devolution to local territories.
- He proposed a ten‑year transition toward stronger public oversight of Thames Water and new powers for mayors to hold water companies to account, including tougher sanctions for repeat failures.
- Burnham framed these measures as policy commitments rather than enacted laws and said he will not expand public spending freely because UK borrowing costs remain high.
- The prime minister chaired a crisis meeting after an attempted attack on a military base shortly before his speech, highlighting immediate security pressures the government must manage alongside domestic reform plans.
- Party activists left the conference buoyed by renewed optimism but commentators and ministers warned that the next step is producing detailed, fundable plans and securing parliamentary backing to deliver real change.