Labour leader claims ‘best chance’ for A1 to be dualled under Andy Burnham Government

The former Manchester Mayor is widely to take over as Labour leader following the resignation of Keir Starmer.

In a speech on Monday, Mr Burnham pledged to create a “No 10” in the North alongside plans for “good growth in every postcode”, with the north appearing to be a key focus for the newly elected MP for Makerfield.

Cllr Scott Dickinson, who worked on Mr Burnham’s leadership campaign in 2010, is hopeful the North East could see major infrastructure projects brought forward under his leaership.

He said: “I worked with him in 2010, I have known him for a very long time. It’s now looking incredibly likely that he will be Prime Minister – and I’m happy about that.

“I think what is clear from Monday’s speech is we were hearing exactly what we would expect to hear from somebody who has campaigned on devolving power away from London.

“That means infrastructure spending too. Somebody like him, with his background in both the cabinet and the mayoral world, knows we need power to deliver infrastructure that matters to our people.

“I think it’s good. It is the best chance ever for infrastructure projects like the A1 because of his commitment to the north and his commitment to devolution of power. It said to me that he is coming to right the wrongs of the past, of the green book and miscalculations and withdrawing of funding to the north.”

Mr Burnham previously held ministerial office under Gordon Brown, and served on the opposition frontbench before assuming the role of Manchester Mayor in 2017. He secured a dramatic return to Parliament earlier this month, comfortably winning the Makerfield by-election despite predictions of a close race with Reform.

There has been increasing pressure on the Government to reconsider the scrapped scheme to dual the A1 in Northumberland recent weeks following a string of fatal accidents. Labour halted a scheme to dual 13 miles of the road between Morpeth and Ellingham in 2024, claiming it was unfunded.

The previous Conservative Government had given the go-ahead, but only after numerous delays and with a general election already called.