Full interview: Andy Burnham on ‘Manchesterism’ and "a new politics"

[0:00] Imagine us walking down here in the 80s when you and I were growing up [0:03] and then turning this corner where we are now, [0:07] near the famous Temple Bar, and then seeing that open up. [0:13] Is that the Beatham Tower? No, that's... [0:15] No, no, they're all new and built in the last... [0:19] or finished in the last five or so years. [0:21] It would have been hard to imagine back then, wouldn't it? [0:24] No, and how many of these sorts of buildings are we talking? [0:26] Because it's totally changed the cityscape of the centre of Manchester. [0:30] If you go back about seven, eight years, [0:32] we had more cranes on the skyline of Manchester [0:35] than anywhere else in the world, I believe. [0:38] Clearly, across the UK economy, there's growth, [0:42] but it hasn't been spectacular for a decade and a half now, [0:47] since the financial crisis. [0:49] People are looking at Manchester, looking at the numbers, [0:52] looking at the number of cranes and thinking something's happening. [0:54] Obviously, you are going to say, yes, of course there is, [0:57] but, like, what tangibly can you point to, [1:01] and how much could this be some sort of lesson for the rest of the country? [1:06] So we've had a decade of devolution in Greater Manchester, [1:10] and in that decade, we have had, on average, [1:14] roughly double the UK growth rate, [1:16] average annual growth of 3%. [1:19] And it's because with that ability [1:22] to do more for ourselves, [1:25] to set an ambition for ourselves, [1:27] we've really kind of pulled this place together. [1:32] And increasingly, [1:33] it is a success story that people are buying into. [1:39] You know, when we kind of were in the last century, [1:41] if you like, [1:42] Whitehall of Westminster had no ambition for Greater Manchester. [1:45] It didn't kind of set a vision for us. [1:49] And it's only with devolved power [1:51] that we've been able to do that [1:52] and say, no, we can be much better than this [1:55] and than what the kind of national level thinks. [1:58] And this has been done, [2:00] we've done this ourselves, [2:01] and not me, but people before me [2:03] who built Greater Manchester into what it is. [2:06] And it's a really exciting place to be. [2:09] And the interesting thing is [2:11] what the next decade may hold for us [2:13] on the back of what we've already built. [2:16] So let me kick the tyres there [2:17] on this causality. [2:18] This is quite important, [2:19] if this is to be a lesson. [2:21] So can you draw a line [2:23] between the extra powers you've got? [2:25] I mean, in your own telling of the story, [2:28] those powers have been more modest [2:29] than you would have liked. [2:30] You know, the biggest power has been over, [2:32] I know, transport, bus networks [2:34] and things like that. [2:35] You haven't had a huge amount of borrowing power. [2:38] So how can it be [2:39] that it's really down to those powers, [2:41] down to some of your decisions? [2:43] Well, it's about the power of the place [2:44] before it's about the powers [2:46] given to us by government. [2:47] You know this place. [2:49] It was bidding for the Olympics [2:50] in the late 1980s. [2:53] And, you know, it was always kind of believed [2:56] that this place could be more [2:57] than it was in the last century. [3:00] It could be more in this century [3:01] than it was then. [3:03] And it's been built [3:05] on that principle going forward. [3:07] And the power comes from the partnership [3:08] between the public sector, [3:10] the private sector, [3:11] the community voluntary sector, [3:13] our universities. [3:14] This place moves as one. [3:16] And it's an incredible, awesome power [3:19] when it's really, you know, [3:21] fully deployed. [3:22] And we've set an ambition [3:23] for a re-industrialised Greater Manchester, [3:27] an innovation-led, research-driven economy. [3:29] And our universities have played [3:31] such a huge role in that. [3:32] I put out a plan recently [3:35] for that re-industrialisation [3:37] based around five key sectors, [3:40] creative media, digital and tech, [3:43] life sciences, [3:44] advanced materials and manufacturing, [3:46] and clean energy. [3:47] The key thing is, [3:48] we already have five physical clusters [3:51] for those industries, [3:52] either in existence now or being built. [3:55] And this vision is getting stronger [3:58] and stronger all of the time. [4:01] And it's one that we've built ourselves. [4:04] You know, we set this ambition [4:05] in a way that the country [4:07] didn't have an ambition [4:08] for the North in the last period. [4:11] Well, we've used Evolve Power to do that. [4:13] And is it replicable to other places? [4:15] Of course it is. [4:16] And you can see that. [4:18] You can see Liverpool beginning [4:19] to achieve a growth rate [4:21] that's higher than the UK average [4:23] and elsewhere in the North as well. [4:26] And it's all linked to devolution. [4:27] And that's why it frustrates myself [4:29] and other mayors [4:30] that we still have to go [4:31] on bended knee to Whitehall [4:33] to plead with them, [4:34] to prize more powers out. [4:36] The growth story is clear [4:38] that comes with devolution. [4:39] And really now, [4:40] the country should be getting [4:41] fully behind it. [4:42] So again, just let me dig down a bit. [4:44] Is it because you can map out a strategy [4:47] and sort of strategies [4:49] have been a bit of a dirty word [4:50] in centralised Westminster politics [4:52] over the past 10, 15, 20 years? [4:55] Is it that? [4:56] And does it have a particular politics? [4:59] Is it statism? [5:00] Is it left or right? [5:03] What is it? [5:04] So it's absolutely about a long-term vision, [5:09] which often Westminster isn't good at. [5:11] It deals in the short term. [5:12] We have a clear vision [5:14] for where we want this city region [5:16] to be by the middle of this century. [5:18] And actually we're achieving it. [5:19] We're well on the way. [5:21] But it is also about a new politics. [5:24] And I was clear about this [5:25] when I left Westminster. [5:27] You know, politics based on point scoring [5:30] doesn't really get you anywhere. [5:32] Here, it's about place first [5:35] rather than party first. [5:37] And when you take a place first approach, [5:39] you build a more collaborative politics [5:41] where all parties work together. [5:44] The private sector finds it easier [5:45] to work with us. [5:46] It's a different political culture [5:48] that we've built here. [5:49] And that is a crucial part of its success. [5:52] And when it comes to right versus left, [5:55] well, we've always been very pro-business, [5:58] pro-enterprise here. [5:59] You know that. [6:00] But Greater Manchester is not the kind of place [6:02] where people say, [6:03] well, I'm all right, Jack, [6:04] and I'll just walk on by on the other side. [6:06] That is completely the opposite [6:08] of how people are here. [6:09] We want people to succeed individually [6:11] and businesses to succeed, [6:13] but give back at the same time. [6:15] And that's the brand of thinking [6:17] and politics that's been built here. [6:20] And yes, I think some of this [6:22] is about reversing some of the damaging things [6:25] of the 80s and 90s [6:27] that harmed productivity in this country. [6:31] You know, when transport was broken up [6:33] and sold off [6:34] so that people couldn't afford the fares anymore [6:36] to get into work [6:37] or where water bills and energy bills [6:39] have become too high, [6:41] you know, hurting both individuals and businesses. [6:44] Some of these things [6:45] have been part of the problem [6:47] and housing perhaps biggest amongst any of them. [6:50] The housing crisis is still holding back our residents [6:53] and holding back our economy here. [6:56] So yes, we say the vision of the left [6:59] about making sure these essentials of life [7:02] are there for everybody [7:03] at a level they can afford [7:05] is absolutely part of Manchesterism [7:07] and the way that we think here. [7:09] But they are also the drivers [7:11] and the foundations of a more productive economy. [7:15] And that is the argument we're putting forward. [7:18] Has the sort of gleaming skyscrapers [7:20] and the sort of culture-led development [7:22] left some people behind? [7:24] It's a sort of common sort of refrain. [7:27] Obviously, like Shelter put out numbers [7:28] about the centre of Greater Manchester [7:29] seeing one in 61, [7:31] people are homeless. [7:34] What measure is that [7:36] of how successful Manchesterism has been or not? [7:39] So we are very conscious of that [7:41] and myself and the 10 leaders here, [7:44] we do talk about that all of the time. [7:48] And we believe we need not perhaps to do [7:50] some of the things that London did [7:52] as it changed [7:53] when the mayor came in in the early 2000s [7:56] and the gentrification of places. [7:59] Now, there's a degree of that everywhere [8:01] and here as well. [8:02] But what we're trying to do [8:04] is make sure that we get ahead of these things [8:07] and put in place the council homes [8:10] and the social homes [8:11] to create housing that everybody can afford. [8:13] So a symbol of that change is [8:16] right now the first social homes [8:19] are being built in Manchester City Centre [8:21] for 40 years [8:22] on the old Boddington's Brewery site. [8:24] And credit to Bev Craig, [8:26] the leader of Manchester City Council, [8:28] who's really pushed that agenda forward. [8:31] And as a city region as a whole, [8:33] we've set ourselves a new target. [8:37] And that is reaching a tipping point [8:39] across our 10 boroughs [8:40] when we are building in one year [8:43] more council and social homes [8:44] than we are losing. [8:46] Net, we're still just about losing more [8:48] than we're building. [8:50] But we believe within a year or two, [8:51] we will get to that new tipping point. [8:53] And only when you've hit that tipping point, [8:56] when you're building more than you're losing, [8:58] are you beginning to ease the grip [9:01] of the housing crisis [9:02] on a place like Greater Manchester? [9:04] I don't think we can be everything [9:06] that we want to be. [9:07] And I don't think we can achieve [9:08] everything we want for our residents [9:10] as long as Greater Manchester [9:11] remains in the grip of that housing crisis. [9:15] We have a very serious plan to address it. [9:18] But I would also want to call [9:20] for stronger powers and funding [9:22] from UK government. [9:23] There are many homes in Greater Manchester [9:25] in the private rented sector, [9:27] perhaps that were once [9:28] in the public housing stock [9:29] that are beneath the decent home standard [9:31] that damage the health [9:34] of the people who live within them. [9:37] They're expensive to heat and to run. [9:41] And I would like to see more powers [9:43] to take homes in that position [9:45] out of the private rented stock [9:47] with compulsory purchase powers [9:49] so that we can move more quickly, [9:52] if you like, [9:53] to rebuild the public housing stock. [9:54] It gives us a sense [9:56] of what the growth looks like [9:57] from the metrics [9:57] that you will have access to, [9:59] whether it's usage of the tram [10:01] and hotel occupancy, [10:05] a number of buildings. [10:06] What is it actually... [10:07] The growth number is one thing, 3%, [10:09] but what does it actually look and feel like? [10:12] Well, I saw a change [10:13] when Co-op Live opened in the city [10:16] because obviously I look at [10:17] the bus patronage numbers [10:20] and the tram numbers [10:21] and they jumped up at that point [10:23] and have never gone backwards [10:26] because more people are coming into the city [10:28] every week [10:29] for some of the incredible things [10:30] that are happening here. [10:33] And that is a phenomenon [10:36] that keeps building. [10:37] It's regularly here, [10:39] a record day on Metrolink, [10:40] the tram system. [10:41] Transport for Greater Manchester [10:42] often say to me, [10:43] oh, the weekend we just had [10:44] was another record. [10:45] So, you know, [10:46] something is clearly happening here. [10:48] And obviously, [10:49] we are getting ready [10:50] to welcome the Brits, [10:51] first time out of London, [10:53] taking place in the city. [10:55] And this is the thing, [10:56] we have a level of infrastructure [10:57] in the city region now [10:59] that supports that growth, [11:01] both the world-class arena [11:04] that Co-op Live is, [11:05] but also the hotel infrastructure [11:07] that supports it. [11:08] And that's full up. [11:09] I mean, people saw [11:10] these property developments [11:11] in the past and said, [11:12] oh, they never full up, [11:13] no one ever lives there. [11:14] You know, London, for example, [11:15] you know, along the Thames, [11:17] often unoccupied foreign owners. [11:20] Is that the same pattern here? [11:21] No, the city is vibrant [11:24] and you can see that [11:25] and you can feel that [11:26] when you walk around [11:28] and you see the footfall. [11:29] And it's really interesting for me, [11:30] you know, if I go back in my past, [11:32] so when I was looking for a job [11:35] here in the early 90s [11:36] and, you know, [11:38] the only job I could find here [11:39] at the time, [11:40] wanting to do your job [11:41] and work in the media, [11:42] was as an unpaid reporter [11:44] on the Middleton Guardian. [11:45] That was my first job [11:46] out of university. [11:49] I had to do what [11:50] so many people of my generation, [11:53] born in the 60s or 70s [11:54] in the northwest of England, [11:55] had to do. [11:56] To get on in life, [11:57] we had to go south. [11:58] You know, the really most amazing thing [12:00] I can tell you about what's changed [12:02] is that now it's a reverse. [12:05] No one here has to leave [12:07] to get on in life. [12:08] And in fact, [12:09] there's a net inflow, [12:12] if you like, [12:13] of young people from London. [12:14] You know, there are many young... [12:15] Manchester? [12:16] Yes. [12:17] Over 10,000, I think, [12:19] in the last... [12:19] Did he have a past thought? [12:20] No, no, they get a warm welcome, [12:24] as we say. [12:25] Some are born here, [12:26] some are drawn here, [12:27] but all call it home. [12:28] And it's the kind of place [12:29] that it is, you know, [12:30] beyond the sort of stats [12:32] and the economic analysis [12:34] and all of that. [12:35] This place has a sort of habit [12:36] of kind of getting hold of you [12:38] and owning you [12:39] once you've committed to it. [12:41] And that's building on the university, [12:43] which has always been here, [12:44] obviously, [12:44] but it's the biggest campus [12:45] in Europe. [12:46] Yes, I mean, [12:47] it's, you know, [12:47] it's incredible [12:48] when you look at [12:49] the University of Manchester, [12:50] but also Manchester Metropolitan, [12:51] University of Salford. [12:52] More applications, [12:53] I heard, [12:54] than any other university? [12:55] We have 110,000 plus [12:59] undergraduates in the city. [13:00] And obviously, [13:01] if you're, you know, [13:03] a big company, [13:05] you're looking at that talent base [13:07] and thinking, [13:08] you know what, [13:09] I really might want [13:10] to base myself there. [13:11] Because the thing is, [13:12] as well, [13:12] you know, [13:12] we do have 20-somethings [13:14] coming here [13:15] from the southern half [13:17] of the country. [13:18] Why? [13:19] Well, [13:19] people can get [13:20] a really good job [13:21] and they can have [13:23] a flat in the city centre. [13:25] They can have a standard [13:26] of living here [13:27] that they can't have [13:28] in London and the southeast. [13:29] What's your message [13:29] to the young people [13:30] of Britain? [13:31] Is it about your city? [13:34] Oh, [13:34] my message to them [13:35] is come and be part of it. [13:37] You know, [13:37] this is an amazing place [13:38] to be. [13:40] I think it is [13:41] the most vibrant city [13:43] in the UK [13:44] and city region. [13:46] And, [13:47] you know, [13:47] this success story [13:48] is building. [13:49] There are names [13:49] in our city [13:50] that, [13:50] you know, [13:50] if I go back [13:51] to the early 90s [13:52] that I was talking [13:52] to you about, [13:53] you know, [13:53] if someone had said [13:54] to me then [13:55] that the Bank of New York [13:56] would have one [13:57] of their six [13:57] global strategic sites [13:59] in city centre [14:00] Manchester [14:01] and are about [14:01] to open [14:02] their new premises [14:03] or if they were [14:05] to say to me [14:05] that, [14:06] you know, [14:06] organisations like [14:07] GCHQ, [14:09] IBM [14:09] were all [14:11] based here [14:12] with brand new [14:13] places, [14:14] you know, [14:15] it would have been [14:15] hard to believe that [14:17] but that is the turnaround [14:18] that's happened [14:19] and I'm not going [14:19] to sit here [14:20] and take all [14:21] of the credit. [14:21] There were people [14:22] well before me [14:23] who began this turnaround [14:24] of Manchester [14:25] in the mid-90s. [14:26] People remember [14:27] the devastating bomb [14:28] in the city centre. [14:29] That is seen [14:30] as the sort of moment [14:31] when things really [14:32] began to turn around. [14:33] Actually, [14:34] I would go back [14:34] and say maybe it was [14:35] the music of the 80s [14:36] when we had been [14:37] de-industrialised [14:38] where there wasn't [14:39] much hope about. [14:40] That came in [14:41] and the music scene [14:42] started to sort of, [14:43] you know, [14:44] give people a bit [14:45] of sense of pride [14:47] and identity back. [14:48] So kind of, [14:49] that maybe kick-started it [14:50] but it really got going [14:51] in the mid-90s [14:52] and onwards [14:52] and people before me [14:54] put down the foundations [14:55] of a vision for, [14:57] as I say, [14:58] an innovation-led, [14:59] research-driven economy [15:01] and I've finally, [15:02] in recent days, [15:02] I've got to the point [15:03] where I've put forward [15:05] that plan [15:05] for the re-industrialisation [15:07] of Greater Manchester. [15:08] If this was only [15:08] about the city [15:09] and the skyscrapers [15:10] of the city, [15:11] then, you know, [15:12] I don't think [15:12] I could sit before you [15:14] and be kind of, [15:15] proud about that [15:16] if I didn't have [15:18] a vision as well [15:19] for the ten boroughs [15:21] of Greater Manchester [15:21] and young people [15:22] growing up within them. [15:24] But we do have [15:25] that vision now, [15:26] new industry, [15:27] re-industrialising [15:28] the birthplace [15:29] of the Industrial Revolution. [15:30] You know, [15:31] it's a fantastic thing [15:32] to be involved with. [15:33] And then looking ahead [15:34] in terms of [15:35] the grand hopes, [15:37] you're hoping to attract [15:37] some of the biggest events [15:39] in the sports calendar [15:41] here, I hear? [15:43] Well, why not? [15:43] Well, there is a possibility [15:45] of Britain bidding [15:46] for the Olympics [15:48] in 2036 or 2040. [15:51] And together with [15:51] other mayors [15:52] across the north, [15:53] reflecting the collective [15:54] confidence we have [15:55] in the whole of the region, [15:57] we are talking about [15:58] a great north Olympics. [16:01] And I think that would [16:02] be a brilliant thing [16:03] for this country [16:03] to commit to, [16:05] to show, you know, [16:06] its belief [16:07] in the north of England. [16:08] You know, [16:08] I have made the point [16:09] that it was only [16:11] with devolution [16:12] that we were able [16:12] to set ambitions [16:13] for ourselves. [16:14] The country never had ambitions [16:16] for this part of the world [16:17] in the late 20th century, [16:19] early part of this one. [16:20] Well, we do now have [16:21] a real sense of ambition. [16:23] So, you know, [16:24] how about really capturing [16:25] that across the north [16:26] and committing [16:27] to an Olympics? [16:28] You know, [16:28] we've got sporting [16:29] infrastructure here [16:30] beyond, I would say, [16:32] pretty much anywhere else [16:33] in the world. [16:34] We've got sporting names [16:35] here that are, [16:36] you know, [16:37] are known [16:38] in every country [16:39] across the world. [16:40] You know, [16:40] the north of England [16:41] has got what it takes [16:43] to hold an Olympic Games. [16:45] And now the IOC says [16:46] a region can hold [16:48] an Olympics. [16:49] Obviously, [16:49] the Winter Olympics [16:50] is being held [16:51] in that way [16:52] at the moment. [16:53] So, yeah, [16:54] why not, [16:55] is what I would say. [16:56] You know, [16:56] we saw what London 2012 did [16:57] and we all felt proud [16:58] of the capital [16:59] and how that was handled. [17:01] So why not, [17:02] you know, [17:03] put that kind of [17:04] sense of belief [17:06] behind the north [17:07] of England [17:07] from a national level, [17:08] it would be [17:09] absolutely brilliant. [17:10] But we're told [17:10] by the Olympic Committee, [17:12] for example, [17:12] or that generally [17:14] the IOC would only vote [17:15] for London [17:15] or Capital City. [17:16] That's been the general vibe. [17:17] That's been the assumption. [17:19] Likewise, [17:19] with the World Women's World Cup, [17:22] that that would have [17:23] to be Wembley. [17:24] Well, [17:24] the FA would, [17:25] of course, [17:25] are going to go for Wembley. [17:26] But our own country [17:27] needs to start re-educating [17:29] these bodies [17:30] and say, [17:31] look, [17:31] have you seen [17:32] what's happening? [17:33] But also, [17:34] we've got sporting names [17:35] here, [17:35] as I said, [17:36] and a sporting heritage [17:37] that is second to none. [17:39] No one, [17:39] no one, [17:39] and nowhere, [17:40] anywhere in the world [17:42] beats it [17:42] in terms of, [17:43] you know, [17:44] what's happened [17:44] in these parts [17:45] to build British sport [17:47] into what it is today. [17:49] And the Commonwealth Games [17:50] very successfully held here. [17:52] If you look at cycling, [17:54] you know, [17:55] the Manchester Velodrome [17:56] has been behind [17:57] the success [17:58] of British cycling, [17:59] which has stormed the world [18:01] in recent times. [18:02] So, [18:02] no, [18:03] I don't know, [18:03] I don't think so. [18:04] I don't think we have to apologise [18:05] anymore. [18:06] You know, [18:07] we don't, [18:07] we should be proud [18:08] in going forward. [18:10] And certainly, [18:10] when it comes to football, [18:12] as I say, [18:12] you know, [18:12] we, [18:13] you know, [18:14] we bow to no one. [18:15] And if you look at what is possible [18:17] around a rebuilt Old Trafford, [18:20] the new Old Trafford, [18:21] which obviously is something [18:23] we're talking now seriously about, [18:25] you know, [18:26] there is a real possibility [18:27] that the Women's World Cup final [18:29] could be held [18:31] at the new Old Trafford [18:32] in 2035. [18:34] And that, [18:34] imagine how electrifying that is [18:36] for any girl growing up [18:38] in the north of England [18:39] to think about that. [18:41] Because it also makes it [18:42] a different story for them [18:43] rather than, [18:44] you know, [18:44] if you like, [18:45] the boys or the men's game [18:46] all based around Wembley. [18:48] But the football association [18:49] will say no to that [18:50] because they own Wembley. [18:51] Well, [18:51] this is the point. [18:52] The time has come [18:53] for all organisations [18:55] in this country [18:56] to, [18:57] you know, [18:57] perhaps leave a bit [18:58] of the London centricity [19:00] at the door [19:00] when they, [19:01] you know, [19:01] when they, [19:02] when they, [19:02] when they come up here [19:03] and start thinking about, [19:04] you know what, [19:05] the potential for our game [19:07] of, [19:07] you know, [19:07] seeing it, [19:08] it's sort of [19:09] renaissance here [19:10] is huge. [19:11] The potential for the Olympic Games [19:13] if you bring it [19:14] to the birthplace [19:16] of the Industrial Revolution [19:17] across the north [19:18] of England. [19:19] And we're even talking here [19:20] around hosting [19:21] the Ryder Cup [19:22] in Greater Manchester [19:23] in, [19:24] in 2035. [19:26] So, [19:27] things are happening [19:28] and that's the exciting thing. [19:30] Would you appeal [19:31] directly to FIFA? [19:32] Go over the, [19:33] go around at the FA? [19:34] Oh, [19:34] absolutely. [19:35] But we'd appeal [19:36] to both the FA and FIFA. [19:37] you know, [19:37] think about [19:38] the women and girls [19:40] game, [19:41] where it's at, [19:42] how exciting [19:43] it's become, [19:44] obviously with the success [19:45] of the Lionesses [19:46] and give it [19:47] its own story. [19:48] You know, [19:49] why always sort of [19:49] run it through, [19:50] you know, [19:51] a different, [19:52] a different story. [19:52] There was a women's team [19:54] here called [19:54] Manchester Corinthians [19:55] that were, [19:56] were playing [19:57] around the world [19:58] when women's football [19:59] was banned [20:00] and there's a film [20:00] just about to come out [20:01] about them. [20:02] So why not kind of [20:03] tap in [20:03] to the, [20:04] to the kind of [20:05] the spirit here [20:06] that the kind of [20:08] the suffragette [20:09] city that we are [20:11] and give women [20:13] and girls football [20:14] its own, [20:14] its own story [20:15] going forward. [20:16] What's your response [20:17] to the, [20:18] to the situation [20:20] obviously in your party [20:21] over the past couple of days? [20:23] It's obviously [20:24] been, [20:25] you know, [20:25] a challenging, [20:26] a challenging week, [20:26] but I think good things [20:28] will come from it [20:29] in, [20:29] in that, [20:30] you know, [20:31] it's [20:32] brought some change [20:34] and I think that opens up [20:35] the possibility [20:35] of running [20:38] the party [20:39] in a more inclusive way [20:40] and what, [20:41] you know, [20:42] I'm saying is [20:43] take credit as well [20:44] for what's happening here [20:45] in Greater Manchester, [20:47] work with us. [20:48] We've got such a powerful [20:50] story to tell [20:51] and I think the time [20:52] has come to sort of, [20:54] you know, [20:54] pull people back, [20:56] pull people back together. [20:57] So always in these moments, [20:59] I've lived through these [20:59] moments in Westminster, [21:00] they are challenging [21:01] when they happen, [21:03] but certainly what I feel [21:04] coming out of it [21:05] is that it's opened up [21:07] conversations [21:07] and perhaps an ability [21:09] to bring people [21:11] back together. [21:12] It's harder, [21:13] I think, [21:13] for this government [21:14] than any government [21:15] of my kind of experience [21:18] in politics [21:19] in terms of really [21:20] getting to grips [21:21] of some of the really [21:22] deep-seated challenges [21:23] the country has got. [21:24] But I do think [21:26] there are signs [21:27] that they do [21:28] understand that [21:29] and they're beginning now [21:30] to really get to grips [21:31] with some of these things. [21:33] And no schadenfreude [21:34] at all, [21:35] given that you were blocked [21:35] from standing back [21:37] for Parliament, [21:37] given the situation [21:38] that the No. 10 [21:40] found itself in? [21:42] Well, [21:42] it's obviously [21:43] a difficult thing [21:44] to go through that, [21:46] having made, [21:46] you know, [21:47] what was quite [21:47] a significant decision [21:49] myself. [21:49] But, [21:50] you know, [21:51] I am fundamentally [21:52] a team player [21:53] and I always have been [21:55] and I've been [21:57] putting my shoulder [21:58] to the wheel [22:00] of the by-election campaign [22:01] and I've been out there [22:02] a lot [22:03] and will continue to be. [22:05] You know, [22:05] it's bigger than me, [22:07] any personality [22:08] in politics. [22:10] I think right now, [22:11] I think we've got to, [22:13] you know, [22:13] open up [22:14] to the scale [22:15] of what's happening. [22:16] You know, [22:16] a lot of people [22:17] don't feel the country [22:18] is working [22:19] in the way [22:20] that it should. [22:21] But there are [22:21] forces out there [22:22] that are using [22:23] that feeling [22:24] to turn people [22:26] against each other, [22:26] to turn communities [22:27] against each other. [22:28] That's what's going [22:29] on out there. [22:30] This is a big moment, [22:31] I think, [22:31] in British politics [22:33] and that requires [22:34] people to put [22:35] kind of their own [22:36] situation aside [22:37] and personalities aside [22:38] and face up to that [22:40] and actually lean [22:41] into what you believe. [22:42] And I believe [22:43] in what we have done here, [22:45] what we have built here [22:46] in Greater Manchester [22:46] and be proud of that. [22:48] This is based [22:49] on partnership [22:51] between people [22:52] and communities, [22:53] not pitting people [22:54] and communities [22:55] against each other. [22:56] If you go right back here [22:57] to the cotton workers [22:58] of 1862 [23:00] who refused [23:01] to handle [23:01] slave-picked cotton, [23:03] you can find [23:04] that spirit [23:05] of Greater Manchester [23:06] that's based [23:06] on a belief [23:07] that we will all [23:08] make more progress [23:09] the more that we [23:09] all pull together. [23:11] That is our spirit. [23:12] That is what has built us [23:14] into the city region [23:15] we are today, [23:16] Britain's most vibrant, [23:17] fast-growing [23:18] city region. [23:19] And that's the spirit [23:20] I am determined [23:21] to defend [23:22] in whatever way [23:23] I can do that. [23:24] Thank you, Andy Byrne. [23:26] Thank you.