Andy Burnham's copy‑paste pitch to Wales called error‑filled by WalesOnline

Andy Burnham’s “Welsh‑ified” opinion piece – a copy‑paste draft that promised housing, business‑rate reform and a 10‑year cost‑cutting plan – has been published by WalesOnline only after the outlet forced a disclaimer on the piece.

How the pitch arrived

The newly elected MP for Makerfield is currently the only candidate in the running to replace Sir Keir Starmer as the leader of the Labour Party, and could become the prime minister on 20 July. His team provided a piece for publication that were similar to essays written for London and Scotland, but with the names of places changed.

Media additions

All three versions opened with the same rallying call: “We need a new determination to raise living standards for every single person in this land. To do that, to fix the economy and the country, we need to change politics, and we need to do it now.” Both the London and Wales versions said: "Everyone can feel the country is not where it should be. People feel it in their bills, their rent, their high streets, their transport, and at the end of every month when there is less and less left over."

The WalesOnline Burnham article continued: “In Wales, that feeling has its own shape. It is felt in Merthyr. It is felt in Rhyl. Port Talbot feels it. It is felt in towns like Wrexham, communities like the Valleys, and places that have waited too long for politics to work for them.” The London version said: "In London, that feeling has its own shape. It is felt in Newham. It is felt in Brent. Croydon feels it. It is felt in towns like Barking, communities like Tottenham, and in places that have waited too long for politics to work for them."

What the piece promised

All three said Burnham will set out a 10-year plan "to bring down the cost" of essentials, including "housing, energy and transport". Burnham also promised to reform business rates in Scotland, London and Wales - business rates are set in Scotland and Wales by their respective devolved governments.

Official‑source reactions

"We didn't run the piece we were offered as it was confused about where power and responsibility lies in Wales,"

Ruth Mosalski, political editor, WalesOnline via BBC

“It listed promises about housing, education and transport even though these are all things that are devolved to Wales - and for which the Plaid Cymru government is now responsible.”

"Andy Burnham talks a good talk when it comes to devolution, but his lazy, copy and paste opinion piece proves his understanding of the matter stops at Offa's Dyke,"

Carrie Harper, Plaid MS via WalesOnline

Plaid's First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth said there were "signs" he might want to bypass the Welsh and Scottish governments. On Radio Wales' Sunday Supplement programme, interim Welsh Labour leader Ken Skates said the risk of bypassing Welsh ministers to devolve powers straight to councils was "nonexistent".

Dafydd Trystan Davies, Plaid minister for the constitution, said on the same programme: "I'd hope that he will listen to voices within Wales and within Scotland that can put the case for devolution to our national governments here in Wales and in Scotland. But he said it would be "very unfortunate indeed if Westminster chose to try and bypass our national Senedd and the Scottish Parliament and Scottish government.

Burnham’s own statements

In an Ask Me Anything event on internet forum Reddit last week, the former Greater Manchester mayor said he would like to be "as collaborative and pragmatic as possible" with the devolved governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. He promised to "speak soon" to the first ministers of all three countries "to agree a positive way of working to this end".

Speaking at a speech in Manchester last week, Burnham promised to devolve "deeper down" in Wales.

What comes next

The newly elected MP for Makerfield is currently the only candidate in the running to replace Sir Keir Starmer as the leader of the Labour Party, and could become the prime minister on 20 July.