UK Top 10 News

A pointed opinion piece in The Sunday Times questioned the effectiveness of Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, specifically targeting his highly-publicised pledge to build 10,000 council houses.
The article, published on Sunday, September 28, 2025, asks a pointed question: ‘Andy Burnham promised 10,000 council houses.
Guess the tally so far?’ The column challenges the notion that Greater Manchester’s success story is directly attributable to the mayor, and even less so to the economic model he is currently promoting for the entire country.
This scrutiny comes at a sensitive political moment, as Burnham is widely viewed within the Labour Party as a potential leadership challenger to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
Shadow Housing Secretary, the individual mentioned, has previously commented that there is no point in changing the person at the top of the party if the underlying policies remain the same.
The focus of the column is to highlight a potential discrepancy between the mayor’s ambitious targets and the actual delivery on the ground, particularly concerning social housing.
The author casts doubt on whether Burnham’s political brand and economic vision are as effective as they are portrayed, suggesting that Greater Manchester's prosperity is driven by factors independent of his specific policy interventions.
The direct question about the housing tally serves as a potent critique, demanding accountability for a major electoral promise.
This challenge to Burnham’s record on housing delivery seeks to undermine the credibility of his broader political platform and his touted economic model for national renewal.