'Good things are happening in Burnham’s Britain - families are being given breathing space’

'Good things are happening in Burnham’s Britain - families are being given breathing space’ 'As a Mancunian who spent some of my childhood growing up just yards away from Strangways prison, I’m delighted the new PM has opened a Downing Street office in Manchester’ Good things are happening in Burnham’s Britain. Within hours of taking office new Prime Minister Andy Burnham and his top team went into action unveiling new measures to help build a better Britain and start the hard work of delivering prosperity in every postcode. To give overstretched families the breathing space people have been crying out for VAT has been slashed from energy bills and bus fare caps. As a Mancunian who spent some of my childhood growing up just yards away from Strangways prison, I’m delighted the new PM has opened a Downing Street office in Manchester. We won’t fix the problems in the country unless every corner of the UK has a fair share and this radical new approach is about ensuring that finally happens. Louise Haigh – who has already cemented her place in Labour history by renationalising the railways - is taking a chainsaw to the red tape and bureaucracy which too often block British businesses from winning government contracts. The government spends a whopping £90 billion a year on goods and services. That’s money which should be supporting British jobs. Louise Haigh’s new plan will guarantee exactly that. New Chancellor John Healey will in the Autumn bring forward a budget to invest in Britain’s creaking infrastructure while Welfare Chief Pat McFadden and Education Secretary Lucy Powell have confirmed new training and skills proposals are in the pipeline to help get the million jobless youngsters into decent, well-paid work. This all adds up to real meaningful action to build a sound and prosperous economy in every postcode. Labour values are at the heart of everything the government is doing. On the international stage there is a welcome approach too with Ed Miliband as Foreign Secretary making climate change and international development guiding missions. Andy Burnham has apologised for Labour's stance on Gaza in the early days. Back in 2023, I wanted to publicly call for a ceasefire but instead Labour MPs were ordered to abstain when asked to support one in the Commons. That was the wrong call. Andy Burnham is right to acknowledge the previous Labour leadership got it so badly wrong. On social care Andy Burnham has big radical plans too. When one in three born today will develop dementia in their lifetimes, fixing social care is an urgent challenge that can no longer be ducked. Anyone who has battled to secure care for a loved one suffering from dementia knows the current system is bust. Labour created the national health service, now with Andy Burnham Labour will create the care service the country needs. Mental ill health can impact anyone As a Labour MP I championed better mental health services and pushed to ensure mental health was taken as seriously as physical health. Mental ill health can impact anyone and there is no shame in seeking help. This is very personal for me because my late dad struggled with drink addiction all his life and as someone recovering from a stroke, I know how stroke can lead to depression. I’m so delighted to see Health Secretary Yvette Cooper making a big commitment to role out mental health community centres. Anyone will be able to help and support with addiction, finding work and financial problems. This is the joined up thinking I was campaigning for. Building on the record numbers of children now getting quality mental health care and the recruitment of 8,500 extra mental health workers in the NHS, this government is delivering a transformation of mental health services. Time for a Minister for Comedy? Culture Chief Lisa Nandy says that when it comes to art, music, film and TV, Britain is brilliant. She’s right. In my old constituency, the arts scene thrives. But I was upset to learn the local Comedy Festival has gone bust. We all love a good laugh. I know plenty of politicians are comedians, maybe it's time for a Minister for Comedy to keep the nation laughing? Though on second thoughts… Perils of Zoom calls The video of a New Zealand politician joining a zoom call from her bathroom reminded me of the pandemic. I was doing constant zoom interviews from my kitchen. On one occasion my young daughters Grace and Annie zoom bombed me on live TV. To this day it's till the most successful interview I ever did.