Andy Burnham, poised to become the United Kingdom’s next prime minister, has outlined a vision centered on dismantling what he calls an “unaccountable state” in order to restore democratic control to voters and local communities. With his premiership imminent, Burnham’s approach contrasts sharply with his predecessor’s leadership style, emphasizing a fundamental rethink of power distribution within the British political system.

Burnham’s critique focuses on the erosion of local authority and the rise of arm’s-length bodies—quangos and private agencies—that operate with limited democratic oversight. Examples cited include academy trusts that run local schools independently of elected councils, and housing associations whose governance structures have distanced themselves from local political accountability. This, he argues, has led to a disconnect between elected officials and the communities they represent, undermining voters’ ability to influence decisions affecting their lives.

This vision reflects Burnham’s long-standing opposition to the centralizing reforms that began with Margaret Thatcher’s government in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Thatcher’s policies of deregulation, privatization, and limits on local government spending fundamentally reshaped the UK’s political and economic landscape. Burnham acknowledges the positive impacts of some regeneration efforts linked to central government initiatives but contends that the cumulative effect has been a steady transfer of power away from voters toward unaccountable institutions.

Burnham highlights several cases that illustrate his concerns about unaccountable governance. One example is the tragic death of Awaab Ishak, a two-year-old who died from conditions in a mould-infested flat managed by a housing association. The authority’s removal of local councillors from its board under prior government reforms exemplifies the consequences of devolving control away from elected bodies. Similarly, environmental oversight failures—such as the inadequate response to flooding and toxic waste incidents in recent years—underscore the challenges of holding agencies accountable when they operate beyond direct public control.

Aware that his leadership will unfold amid skepticism and high expectations, Burnham has pledged a more inclusive and transparent style of governance. He has committed to establishing a “feedback loop” between the parliamentary Labour Party (PLP), local communities, and the government, aiming to ensure that legislation is not imposed without consultation and that ministers remain directly answerable to the public and their representatives.

Critics question whether Burnham can deliver on these promises, noting the complexities of navigating party dynamics and entrenched bureaucratic structures. His ascent to the premiership, achieved without a party-wide leadership vote, has further fueled doubts about his mandate. Nonetheless, Burnham’s team insists he has prepared extensively for the initial 100 days in office, drawing on a conception of power shaped by decades of political and social change.

Ultimately, Burnham’s central message is that the traditional mechanisms of electoral politics have become less effective in securing meaningful influence for citizens. By addressing the “unaccountable state” and restoring authority to voters and local government, he aims to redefine the relationship between the public and the institutions that govern them, signaling a departure from past approaches that prioritized centralized control and technocratic governance.