Andy Burnham is making his first major policy speech since launching his bid to become prime minister - watch live at the top of the page
The Labour MP is expected to announce plans for more regional devolution in England, including a "No 10 North", and to drive growth "across every nation and region of the UK"
He is also expected to say the government must give "Britain the circuit-breaker it needs" and commit to a "10-year mission" to raise living standards - although he is not expected to take questions
The private sector will be looking for specifics on taxation, energy prices, and the costs of employment, writes Faisal Islam
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch urges Burnham to come to Parliament to face scrutiny - adding that his plans seem to be "old hat"
If no other Labour MP makes a leadership bid, Burnham is expected to become prime minister on 20 July
Image source, PA MediaAndy Burnham takes to the stage to a large round of applause, and asks the crowd: "Are you ready for this?"
He thanks people for their support and, speaking in Manchester, says "I will never forget what this place did for me", adding "it's been such a wrench to leave".
Andy Burnham has started speaking in Manchester.
We'll have updates throughout - and you can watch live at the top of the page.
By Anthony Reuben
Andy Burnham’s team have said the "central proposal" of his speech today will be "the biggest transfer of power out of Whitehall in modern times".
That’s setting the bar very high.
For example, the Scottish Parliament is in charge of things like the nation’s education, health, justice and policing and also has power to vary some taxes, including income tax.
The Welsh Senedd also has significant powers, although it has less power over tax, justice and welfare than its Scottish counterpart.
The Northern Ireland Assembly has greater powers over employment and social security than either Scotland or Wales, but less power over taxation.
The powers of all three have varied since they were created in the late 1990s, but if Burnham is going to outstrip even the levels of powers they each started with, that will be an enormous upheaval.
Burnham is expected to announce plans to move part of his operation, if he becomes PM as expected, to the North of England, in what's being billed as a "No 10 North".
Henri Murison, chief executive of the Northern Powerhouse Partnership - which was set up under Conservative Chancellor George Osborne to support economic development - told BBC Breakfast earlier this morning it is "good news for the whole country" if advisers and civil servants are "based outside the Whitehall machine".
"I think it's in the interests of everyone who wants our economies to thrive to have the best available people working in an environment where they can think outside the box," he said.
Murison said most of the country's power "still sits in Whitehall" and moving civil servants out of London has had a "positive cultural influence".
He added "there is talent" in the North of England and ministers or civil servants based there will have access to people "with real knowledge and capability" who wouldn't be available in London.
Faisal Islam
Economics editor
Burnham’s core argument will be that empowering cities and regions such as his own fast-growing Manchester has worked, and needs to be pushed wider and deeper as a go-to answer for unleashing the full economic potential of the UK.
He will argue for a "10-year mission" to raise living standards through reindustrialisation, housing, infrastructure and reform of essential utilities - a reference to greater state control.
Many in the private sector will be looking for more specific direction on taxation, on energy prices, and on costs of employment.
There are some radical ideas circulating amonghis backers and from his own previous writings ranging from breaking up the Treasury to funding major transport infrastructure through taxes capturing the uplift in land values.
It is not at all clear that he will spell out a detailed manifesto at this moment, arguing his approach is consistent with the 2024 Labour manifesto.
Faisal Islam
Economics editor
Today’s hometown speech is part reassurance and part radicalism from someone on course for Downing Street in three weeks, but it will be far from his full economic story.
It will be the first time he has addressed a national audience since his return to the Commons and the resignation of Keir Starmer.
His backers have been reassured by the recent calm in markets despite a week of political upheaval. He will confirm a commitment to stick to existing limits on borrowing - the so-called fiscal rules.
He will also effectively publicly endorse Alan Milburn’s ongoing review on the challenges of youth unemployment and inactivity, which backers say shows recognition of the need to tackle welfare challenges.
There will not however be any announcement of a name for a chancellor of the exchequer in any Burnham administration. No decisions have been made.
Badenoch announces five things that she says will spark growth, which she describes as:
She says the Conservatives' plan is to abolish business rates "for most of the high street", scrap the "family farms tax", "scrap the family business tax", and abolish stamp duty on family homes.
"If Britain is going to compete in a world of rapid technological change, it needs to be easy to build things here," she says.
Badenoch continues and says she would "be happy to sit down" with Burnham to discuss her plans, and lend Conservative votes in Parliament to pass "tough legislation" that Labour backbenchers "don't have the stomach for".
As we've been reporting, Badenoch is also making a speech this morning.
She starts off by addressing Burnham, saying he is prime minister in all but name and urges him to come to Parliament to tell the country about his plans.
She adds the country is heading for a "summer of chaos" and a harsh economic reality ahead, with public spending "spiralling out of control".
Proposals being outlined by Burnham later today are not radical or new, but "old hat", she says.
In his speech later today, Burnham is expected to set out a commitment for a "10-year mission" to raise living standards and to create a "No 10 North".
Speaking in Manchester, his vision is expected to involve mayors being given greater control over social housing, welfare and education - with power over budgets currently spent by Whitehall.
Burnham is also expected to set out an ambition to drive growth "across every nation and region of the UK" and vow to put devolutionat the heart of his programme for government.
He will say decision-making needs to be "pushed to regions and local communities", and will promise "good growth in every postcode".
There will also be proposals on youth employment in order to "lift Britain back up to where it should be".
And he is expected to say the government must "give Britain the circuit-breaker it needs", as well as address his view of why there is low public trust in politics.
Image source, PA MediaConservative leader Kemi Badenoch is urging Burnham to set out his plans in the House of Commons before the summer recess in July.
Parliament is due to rise on 16 July and Burnham is expected to become PM on 20 July if no Labour MP challenges him for the leadership.
"A speech full of warm words to a friendly crowd is not a substitute for speaking at the despatch box where MPs can question the substance of what he has said," she says.
She adds Burnham "should be brave enough to answer MPs representing the length and breadth of the country" on his plans.
Tory chairman Kevin Hollinrake says Burnham's "big idea is to shuffle power between politicians.
"Just more devolution, more committees, more process. It's the politics of distraction from a Labour Party that is deliberately avoiding the questions that actually matter," he says.
The Conservatives say Badenoch will use her speech this morning to "set out her tests to Andy Burnham".
She's due to start speaking shortly - you can watch live at the top of this page.
Chris Mason
Political editor
Burnham will give what his team has called "his first major leadership speech" later and will promise to "lift Britain back up to where it should be".
In an address at the People's History Museum in Manchester, the new MP for nearby Makerfield will say as prime minister he would "give Britain the circuit breaker it needs".
His inner circle describe it as "the foundational text" of his programme for government.
As such, it is expected to be broad based.
It is not thought he will take any questions from reporters afterwards, which will likely raise eyebrows from some given his lack of a mandate from the electorate.
His team insist this won't be part of "a pattern" of avoiding scrutiny - but that will come later in the campaign.
Three weeks from today, he could become prime minister, assuming, as is widely expected, he doesn't face a contest for the Labour leadership.
In the next three weeks, he has to charm Labour MPs, sell his vision to the country, decide who will serve in his government and wrestle with the huge challenges that currently face Keir Starmer.
How will he pay for our defence? What about social care? How will he manage his relationship with US President Donald Trump?
These are three of the dozens of huge questions that confront a man who wasn't even an MP a fortnight ago.
Image source, Tolga Akmen/EPA/ShutterstockThis morning Andy Burnham will make his first major policy speech since launching his bid to be leader of the Labour party.
His inner circle is billing it as the "the foundational text" of his programme for government.
Burnham is almost certain set to become the UK's next prime minister, and if no other Labour MP challenges him, he is expected to take the reins in No 10 on 20 July.
In a speech in Manchester at 11:30 BST, he is expected to announce plans for a "No 10 North" and set out a vision to give more plans to local officials, with a focus on raising living standards.
But before then, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch will give a speech in central London - slated for 10:00 BST - where she is expected to speak about the economy.
We'll have updates and analysis throughout.
