A question for Burnham as he tours the country: how to reduce the magnetic pull of London? | Peter Hetherington
But just weeks before he set out his stall as prime minister, promising to rebalance the economy with growth in every postcode, a government agency, National Highways, underlined the pulling power of the country’s dominant city-region. It announced that a giant tunnelling machine, 16.4 metres in diameter, “the largest ever used in Europe”, was to take England’s most expensive road under the Thames.The Lower Thames Crossing (LTC), so far priced at £10bn-£11bn, is proving to be a contested 14.5-mile venture on the edge of Greater London. Objectors and local councils say it will deliver only short-term congestion relief and destroy ancient woodland and habitats.
- ▪But just weeks before he set out his stall as prime minister, promising to rebalance the economy with growth in every postcode, a government agency, National Highways, underlined the pulling power of the country’s dominant city-region.
- ▪It announced that a giant tunnelling machine, 16.4 metres in diameter, “the largest ever used in Europe”, was to take England’s most expensive road under the Thames.The Lower Thames Crossing (LTC), so far priced at £10bn-£11bn, is proving t
- ▪Objectors and local councils say it will deliver only short-term congestion relief and destroy ancient woodland and habitats.
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| Original publisher | The Guardian — Politics |
| Canonical URL | https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/aug/11/andy-burnham-reduce-magnetic-pull-london-regional-policy-england |
| Publication time | Tue, 11 Aug 2026 07:00:06 GMT |
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Composite: Guardian Design/Getty ImagesView image in fullscreen Composite: Guardian Design/Getty ImagesOpinionNorth-south divideA question for Burnham as he tours the country: how to reduce the magnetic pull of London?Peter HetheringtonAs someone who has specialised in regional policy, I know the task is huge – not least because there is no plan to ensure prosperity throughout EnglandTue 11 Aug 2026 03.00 EDTShareAndy Burnham is off on his travels this week, aiming to reconnect No 10 and the government with voters and communities across the UK. But just weeks before he set out his stall as prime minister, promising to rebalance the economy with growth in every postcode, a government agency, National Highways, underlined the pulling power of the country’s dominant city-region.
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