Andy Burnham has taken over as Labour leader and marked the moment by dancing to New Order, the Manchester band, reflecting his strong regional identity as he sets out an agenda that includes devolving income tax powers to metro mayors. The plans form part of a wider pledge to roll back Thatcherite policies, signalling a shift towards greater fiscal devolution for regional Labour administrations such as his own in Greater Manchester.

Burnham has also indicated he is willing to "expend a lot of political capital" on a controversial funding mechanism for social care, dubbed a "death tax" by critics, prompting warnings from opponents. Amid the reshuffle following his elevation, Angela Rayner has been tipped for a political comeback as Health Secretary after a separate tax scandal, underlining the wider changes taking shape within the party's top ranks.