Andy Burnham responds to Prime Minister’s Industrial Strategy announcement

Andy Burnham

Labour’s Candidate for Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham, has responded to the Prime Minister’s Industrial Strategy announcement saying there is a gap between the rhetoric and the reality.

Mr Burnham said: “I welcome many of the sentiments in today’s industrial strategy announcement by the Prime Minister, but there is a real danger that there continues to be a gap between the rhetoric and the reality.

“I have long argued for the overhaul of technical education and the need to give clarity and hope to the more than 50% of young people not on the academic route. But, if the Prime Minister is serious about a new focus on technical education then she must re-write the Fair Funding Formula that, in its current form, will see severe cuts to schools and colleges across Greater Manchester.

“The investment announced today is welcome, but we do need a commitment from the Government to replace the long-term funding that the north is about to lose when the European Structural Funds go.

“It is good that the Government is again talking about the importance of the Northern Powerhouse and I stand ready to work with them to make these aspirations work for the people of Greater Manchester.

“I want Greater Manchester to be the country’s industrial capital once again and we can achieve that through investing in the key industrial sectors of the future.”