Labour leadership frontrunner Andy Burnham has delivered his first major policy speech in Manchester, pledging what he called the biggest transfer of power out of Whitehall in modern times — but offered no detail on how his ambitious plans would be funded.
The Greater Manchester mayor, who could enter Number 10 Downing Street within three weeks, also drew criticism for refusing to take questions from journalists after the address.
Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, dismissed the devolution agenda, saying it would not address the national debt or immigration.
Jennifer Williams, North of England correspondent for the Financial Times, says the absence of costings was no accident.
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Jennifer Williams, North of England correspondent for the Financial Times in Manchester, says Burnham has been largely shielded from the intensity of national politics for almost a decade.
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