How did Andy Burnham reinvent himself as king of the north?

Handing power to directly elected mayors has created trouble for central government – but that is the point of devolution, says John Rentoul

Andy Burnham, mayor of Greater Manchester, and leader of ‘the north’ (AP)

Coronavirus has had an unexpected effect in strengthening politicians representing parts of the UK against the whole. Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, has become a power in the land, speaking as leader of a group of fellow mayors for much of the north of England. 

His insistence that new measures to control the virus in his fiefdom must come with financial support helped to force the chancellor to announce the new mini-furlough scheme on Friday. And Burnham’s demand to be consulted about the three-tier system of measures created such turbulence in Westminster that the prime minister is coming to parliament today to make the announcement. 

Like Nicola Sturgeon in Scotland, Mark Drakeford in Wales and Arlene Foster in Northern Ireland, Burnham’s profile has been boosted by the differing public health regimes developed in different parts of the UK.