Hello [Name],

This week, we will see Andy Burnham’s coronation as Labour leader at a special Labour Party conference set to be held on Friday (17th July), before he walks through the door of Number 10 on Monday morning. 

Andy Burnham: How will he govern on climate?

Perhaps worryingly, Burnham hasn’t said much on climate. However, there are certain things we can glean from his record…

His choice of Chancellor will be key

• The favourite choices are Wes Streeting, a Blairite who has spoken in favour of North Sea drilling, and Ed Miliband, the current Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero. Miliband is known for his ‘policy chops’ – he has a well-thought-through economic vision with emissions reductions at the centre.
• Burnham is close to Miliband, who is widely seen as his preferred choice. In fact, Burnham has previously described Miliband as a ‘visionary’! However, Miliband has been subject to a smear campaign in the right-wing media, and even Unite’s General Secretary Sharon Graham has opposed his appointment to Number 11.
• A wildcard pick would be Shabana Mahmood, associated with Labour’s socially conservative ‘Blue Labour’ tradition. Mahmood has said very little about the climate and there is no indication she would make it a central part of her economic agenda.
• Another key choice will be the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero. If Miliband does not stay in post, will his successor be as committed to climate action?

Burnham’s record as Greater Manchester mayor was mixed

• Burnham is most famous for Greater Manchester’s ‘Bee Network’, which brought buses under a London-style franchise system, with zero-emission vehicles and support for more active travel.
• Greater Manchester has a net zero target of 2038 – 12 years ahead of the national goal. Burnham has said that without UK government support, the city is in danger of missing the target, commenting that cities must be freed up to cut emissions fastest to ensure the UK decarbonises by 2050.
• On the flipside, Burnham scrapped plans for a Clean Air Zone – arguing that charging would turn working-class communities off decarbonisation plans and is the wrong approach.

What has Burnham said about climate?

• Not much in his leadership ‘campaign’! His big speech focused on devolution, regional growth and reindustrialisation – with no mention of the green agenda. Burnham’s choice of James Purnell – former CEO of Flint Global, a lobbying firm which has worked with BP, among others – as his Chief of Staff is a major cause for concern.
• Burnham has said there can be ‘no turning away from net zero’ and the little we know about his policy programme – and his preferred choice of Miliband as his Chancellor – suggests he would seek to build an economic programme around this.
• We rate Burnham’s voting record up to 2017, when his last stint in Parliament ended, as ‘good’. This is because he largely voted with the Labour whip, and it doesn’t tell us much about his own stance on climate. You can view Andy Burnham’s voting record on the VoteClimate website.

Andy Burnham is a blank canvas, with supporters projecting onto him the political agenda they hope he will advance. In the absence of a clearly stated political vision, it is difficult to tell what kind of Prime Minister Burnham will be. His choice of Chancellor will be critical in shaping his government’s direction on climate. 

With very best wishes,

Ben, Garry, Jamie, Peter and Will

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