Tony Blair launched his time in No10 with a relentless focus on ‘education, education, education’ - and Andy Burnham will start his with his eye on ‘devolution, devolution, devolution '.

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Confident, relaxed, and in his happy place of Manchester, Mr Burnham looked comfortable and determined as he took to the podium for his first major campaign speech.

In his traditional uniform of a dark t-shirt and blazer, he set out a more radical agenda to change Britain than many were expecting.

Yes, Levelling Up as a concept has been tried before, but Burnham is a man whose success may be wedded nearly entirely to this project.

As a result, we got big plans for a No10 for the north, devolution of employment welfare support, a ripping up of the whipping system, reform of business rates, promoting British firms for procurement contracts, ownership of more utilities, and the biggest council house building programme since the end of the Cold........

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