Lord Richard Walker has argued that responsibility for addressing the high cost of living should be held by new prime minister Andy Burnham’s ‘No 10 North’ office.
Iceland chair Walker, who was ex-prime minister Sir Keir Starmer’s cost-of-living champion but stood down from that role when Burnham assumed the premiership, shared his idea in a LinkedIn post.
He wrote: “‘No 10 North’ needs to be more than just a PR exercise and have some real purpose. I would move the cost-of-living remit into there and away from the Westminster bubble – to make policy work better for every part of the country.”
Addressing the continued high cost-of-living burden shouldered by many people is one of Burnham’s top concerns as he seeks to deliver “good growth in every postcode” and devolves some powers away from Westminster, including by establishing a No 10 North prime ministerial office in Manchester.
In his post, Walker also said: “My Cost of Living Action Plan has generated interest in the right places – not least with our new incoming PM and his team. He knows that the affordability crisis is now voters’ number one concern, and that the autumn will be tough.
“Andy doesn’t have time for resets and delays – action is the priority and boldness will pay dividends. Teams from across government departments have been commissioned to act on my suggestions…I’ll be eagerly watching to see how they do!”
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