Andy Burnham says Britain needs a written constitution

It's far from the first time Burnham has proposed a written constitution.

Speaking this week as he unveiled fresh plans for greater devolution, the former Greater Manchester mayor argued the reforms strengthen the case for a formal set of founding principles, in an interview reported by The Independent.

Why is Andy Burnham making the case now?

Burnham first advocated for a written constitution in his 2024 book, Head North: A Rallying Cry for a More Equal Britain, co-authored with Liverpool City Region mayor Steve Rotheram.

The move comes amid a sustained Burnham bounce in the polls since he entered Downing Street.

Speaking this week, Burnham said his devolution programme – which would give every area the right to become a strategic authority – makes the argument for a new constitutional settlement harder to ignore.

Burnham said "good growth in every postcode" should be the "cornerstone" of any constitution, adding: "There is a case for a new clear set of principles about how this country should be run and things that should be minimum basics in all parts of the country."

"In the end, I think it does start to point towards a new constitutional settlement, particularly with what Steve and I were writing about with that commitment to equivalent living standards.

"We need to have a country where everyone, in the end, can live a comparable life."

Ministers are expected to flesh out the devolution plans in the coming weeks.