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Head North: A Rallying Cry for a More Equal Britain
Picked as one of Waterstones' Non-Fiction 'Books You Need to Read in 2024' Gordon 'A path-breaking book by two dynamic leaders... whose ideas on the future deserve all our attention.'Britain is more unequal than ever before. If we're ever going to fix this, we must take the power out of Westminster. Looking North could change this, and the Mayors of Greater Manchester and the Liverpool City Region, Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram are leading this fight. For the first time, they share their experiences of modern British politics, from how the Hillsborough disaster shaped them and their time as MPs in Westminster witnessing its systematic flaws, to leaving to become Mayors up North, battling Boris Johnson during the Covid-19 pandemic, and creating a new vision for what Britain could be. In Head North, they propose an ambitious ten-point plan to rewire and reimagine our country beyond the Westminster bubble. A timely discussion around Northern voices and culture, devolution and the failed promises of 'levelling up' from successive Tory Prime Ministers, Head North outlines how we can spread political and economic power throughout the UK and push forward for a fairer future. The North will not sit on the sidelines any longer. It's time for real change - and this is how we can achieve it!
271 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 7, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 171 reviews
July 1, 2026
when I started this book, keir starmer was the prime minister and as I finish, andy burham is set to take over. reading this book made me excited that change could actually happen with investment and power back in north. if andy can achieve just half of what he is proposing, the UK will be a better place. if nothing else, there’s hope
February 28, 2024
I really enjoyed reading this book. Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram, the mayors of Greater Manchester and the Liverpool City Region, make their case for a better way of running Britain in this extremely readable book. Half memoir, half manifesto, Head North makes a passionate argument in favour of restructuring politics with meaningful regional devolution at the heart of a totally transformed political system.
They describe their political careers to date and the events and experiences that have shaped them as people and as politicians. The Hillsborough disaster is an ever present for both men, proud Scousers, who saw in the tragedy the seeds of a system totally loaded against ordinary people and in favour of the establishment.
Indeed, Burnham and Rotheram highlight Hillsborough – and other scandals like Grenfell and the Post Office – to show a political class and a wider establishment that has systematically blocked and hampered the hopes and aspirations of working-class people, especially, though not exclusively, those from the north. Head North makes a strong argument that the ‘Westminster knows best’ decision-making approach is not working – and indeed has never worked – and what’s needed is a new way of doing politics and the implementation of real devolution that would transform the country and the prospects of the people who live in it.
They turned their backs on Westminster to go back to the north where they believe a better way of governance can be forged. Their ten-point Head North manifesto contains some good ideas that, if implemented, would certainly change the way that Britain is run. I hope they - and we - get the chance to see it delivered.
They describe their political careers to date and the events and experiences that have shaped them as people and as politicians. The Hillsborough disaster is an ever present for both men, proud Scousers, who saw in the tragedy the seeds of a system totally loaded against ordinary people and in favour of the establishment.
Indeed, Burnham and Rotheram highlight Hillsborough – and other scandals like Grenfell and the Post Office – to show a political class and a wider establishment that has systematically blocked and hampered the hopes and aspirations of working-class people, especially, though not exclusively, those from the north. Head North makes a strong argument that the ‘Westminster knows best’ decision-making approach is not working – and indeed has never worked – and what’s needed is a new way of doing politics and the implementation of real devolution that would transform the country and the prospects of the people who live in it.
They turned their backs on Westminster to go back to the north where they believe a better way of governance can be forged. Their ten-point Head North manifesto contains some good ideas that, if implemented, would certainly change the way that Britain is run. I hope they - and we - get the chance to see it delivered.
February 17, 2026
Glad to see there is people who do have a plan to try and fix the inequality we face in the north.
The other big takeaway was much the Tory government tried to screw over Greater Manchester during Covid. There was so much going on during the pandemic I tend to forget the whole sage over Manchester going into Tier 3, as-well as the media coverage over Mayor Andy Burnham’s comments on the Tory’s decisions
The other big takeaway was much the Tory government tried to screw over Greater Manchester during Covid. There was so much going on during the pandemic I tend to forget the whole sage over Manchester going into Tier 3, as-well as the media coverage over Mayor Andy Burnham’s comments on the Tory’s decisions
March 26, 2025
I might be biased as my husband wrote this🤣
July 5, 2024
Finished this just in time for election day yesterday. It's like I timed it perfectly?
Absolutely brilliant. Beyond interesting. I am now a firm believer in devolution of parliament and offering local authorities more power. Andy Burnham is the King of the North and no one can tell me otherwise!
Absolutely brilliant. Beyond interesting. I am now a firm believer in devolution of parliament and offering local authorities more power. Andy Burnham is the King of the North and no one can tell me otherwise!
March 25, 2024
This really is a fantastic book that can be a really big motivation for making the United Kingdom a fairer and more equal country. While it does emphasise the vast amount of systemic problems that exist in the UK, it reads very positively as a book of hope, and that a few small changes can go a long way in making the UK a much better place.
Burnham & Rotherham write seperately in distinct fonts throught the book. This works especially well during the first half of the book which is autobiographical, and explains the influence of events such as the Hillsborough Disaster and Manchester Arena Bombings on Burham and Rotherham. In the second half, both Burham and Rotherham (understandably) overlap a lot in the specific aspects they mention, this could have been written slightly better to make the second half a little more concise. Burham also seems to write around 70% of the total text in this section.
Overall, a very inspiring read that can empower all of us to fight for a better country. One of the best non-fiction books I have read recently.
Burnham & Rotherham write seperately in distinct fonts throught the book. This works especially well during the first half of the book which is autobiographical, and explains the influence of events such as the Hillsborough Disaster and Manchester Arena Bombings on Burham and Rotherham. In the second half, both Burham and Rotherham (understandably) overlap a lot in the specific aspects they mention, this could have been written slightly better to make the second half a little more concise. Burham also seems to write around 70% of the total text in this section.
Overall, a very inspiring read that can empower all of us to fight for a better country. One of the best non-fiction books I have read recently.
March 12, 2024
The best political book I’ve ever read. It is a triumph of experience-based common sense and lays bare the inadequacies of the British political system. Not only does it reveal the problems but, importantly, it proposes solutions and changes to close the North-South divide.
Andy & Steve should donate 650 copies of the book to the House of Commons with one given to every MP with the instruction to read it cover to cover.
A masterpiece.
Andy & Steve should donate 650 copies of the book to the House of Commons with one given to every MP with the instruction to read it cover to cover.
A masterpiece.
November 23, 2025
This is an essential read for anyone living in the UK or with an interest in government. I had my own perceptions of how the North has been impacted (or left behind) by policy, but this really opened my eyes as to the systemic classism and regionism built into Westminster. Being in policy advocacy at this time also made this a really intriguing read. It is also a refreshing style of prose, as Andy and Steve both write like they are speaking to you in a casual conversation. Highly recommend this book on all fronts.
September 3, 2026
Already had huge admiration for Andy and Steve - the work they’ve done for the Manchester and Liverpool city regions is amazing and clear to see, and their friendship is lovely. This book made me proud to be from the North West. Their vision for harnessing green energy from the Mersey is inspiring and I hope Andy can drive forward their plans for social housing and Lords reform now that he’s back in government.
May 29, 2025
I loved this positive vision for what the North could be- it made me feel genuinely inspired and hopeful. It also exposes the injustices people in the North have faced under a series of governments, which was quite shocking to read. They offer a manifesto of actions that should be taken to properly devolve power out of Westminster, which feel achievable. 10/10.
September 14, 2026
A good book overall and definitely very interesting as seeing some of these things happening now.
September 14, 2026
Many people I have spoken to don't really know what Andy Burnham stands for. Well, head to your library and get a copy of Head North to find out.
While the book is well worth reading if you want to understand our current Prime Minister, I feel quite conflicted about it.
I listened to the audiobook, which unfortunately had quite a few strange glitches throughout. However, this did have one unexpected benefit: it was very easy to tell whether a section had been written by Andy Burnham or Steve Rotheram. Having since seen a physical copy of the book, I can understand why other reviewers have found it quite difficult to work out who has written which sections when reading it on the page.
The most interesting part of the book for me was hearing about both politicians' careers and their experiences in politics. Their accounts gave me a much better sense of what Westminster politics was like for Labour between roughly 2000 and 2015, particularly from the perspective of two politicians who were increasingly frustrated with how power was concentrated in Westminster.
The book was written primarily as an argument for regional mayors and greater devolution, and if it had remained focused on that, I would have had relatively few objections. In fact, I broadly agree with the central argument that more power should be moved away from Westminster and towards the regions. I also liked the example of looking to German regional governance for how we could improve things here (however, they did perhaps sugarcoat the way things were run a bit too much for my taste.
Where I became more sceptical was when the book moved from advocating regional government into proposing a much broader vision for how the country should be run. A surprising amount of what is presented as a vision for the regions is actually national policy rather than regional policy. Some of these are things I agree with: the whip system feels outdated, the House of Lords clearly needs reform, too many MPs have effectively become glorified constituency councillors rather than being able to focus on developing policy, and parts of the legal system do not feel designed around protecting the average citizen. Their criticism of outsourcing to companies — Serco isn't mentioned, but we all know who they're referring to — also struck a chord with me. There is a genuine argument that some of these contracts have represented poor value for money and should be reconsidered. There is a genuine argument for reform in many of these areas, much of which would probably attract bipartisan support three years on from the book's publication.
The problem is that, once the book starts discussing other national policy proposals, it becomes increasingly clear that both authors have a fairly limited view of the UK outside Westminster and the North West. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are often presented as though they have broadly figured things out, while the South West barely seems to exist. The South East, meanwhile, is frequently treated as a largely prosperous part of the country that does not face the same structural problems as elsewhere. That feels like a particularly simplistic view of a region containing places such as Kent and Essex, which have experienced plenty of economic and social problems of their own over the past few decades.
The same issue comes through in their arguments about reindustrialising the North. The idea of a new industrial revolution sounds compelling, but the historical argument behind it feels much less convincing. The original Industrial Revolution was not simply something created by government investment or national policy; much of it emerged from private enterprise, technological development, geography and economic circumstances that the state did not centrally plan. Trying to recreate that process through government policy therefore seems considerably more complicated than the book sometimes acknowledges.
There is also a slightly strange romanticism throughout the book about the North and its industrial past. You can understand why both men feel so strongly about the region and what it represents, but I am not sure that everyone living in the North necessarily wants to return to that identity. In many ways, the growth of technology and other modern industries in cities across the North demonstrates that the region is already developing in ways that have little to do with recreating its industrial past. One also gets a sense that the two misunderstand what Margaret Thatcher did to the North in the 1980s. They repeatedly suggest that many of the North's problems can be traced back to Thatcher, yet the period they themselves seem to long for — the 1970s — was already a period of marked industrial decline. Thatcher undoubtedly accelerated deindustrialisation and did little to cushion its consequences, but she did not cause the process itself. The decline of many of the North's traditional industries had been underway for decades before she came to power.
This is ultimately where I struggled with the book. I applaud Burnham and Rotheram for their genuine love of the UK and for their belief that things can be improved. There is something refreshing about politicians who clearly have a strong sense of place and who are willing to argue that Westminster does not have all the answers.
At the same time, the book sometimes seems to replace one overly Westminster-centric view of Britain with an overly North Western one. Its strongest argument is that Britain needs to distribute power more widely; its weakest arguments are to propose bringing back what "worked" in the 70s - failing to acknowledge the radically changing world in the process.
There is also an interesting, and now rather awkward, aspect to reading the book with hindsight. It was written as an argument for a different kind of politics and greater regional power, but some of the national policies and political reforms proposed here now have the potential to come back to haunt both authors. With Burnham having since become Prime Minister, ideas that once read as theoretical proposals now look much more like a manifesto for a government that has to actually implement them.
Given how broad the proposals the two make are, I was also surprised by how little attention is given to some of the major trade-offs involved in implementing them. You would expect, for example, some discussion of monetary policy or of reforming and restructuring the NHS in order to free up money for some of their other proposals. Instead, these areas are largely left untouched. It makes the vision feel somewhat incomplete: there is a lot of discussion about what government should do differently, but less about what would have to change, or what would have to be sacrificed, to pay for it.
The two also at times express optimism that when Starmer came to power, things would change and that he would change various Tory policies. However, we now know that, faced with the economic realities of the boiler ban and other reforms, he had to buckle and continue on with what the Tories had proposed.
Overall, I found Head North most compelling when Burnham and Rotheram were talking about their own political experiences and making the case for devolution. I was much less convinced when they moved from that argument into prescribing a national future for the entire UK. I came away admiring their enthusiasm and their belief that Britain can be better, while remaining unconvinced that their particular vision is broad enough to account for the country they are trying to change — or that Burnham is the man to implement that vision. I look forward to revisiting this review in the future as we begin to learn more of what Mr Burnham has done during his time as PM.
While the book is well worth reading if you want to understand our current Prime Minister, I feel quite conflicted about it.
I listened to the audiobook, which unfortunately had quite a few strange glitches throughout. However, this did have one unexpected benefit: it was very easy to tell whether a section had been written by Andy Burnham or Steve Rotheram. Having since seen a physical copy of the book, I can understand why other reviewers have found it quite difficult to work out who has written which sections when reading it on the page.
The most interesting part of the book for me was hearing about both politicians' careers and their experiences in politics. Their accounts gave me a much better sense of what Westminster politics was like for Labour between roughly 2000 and 2015, particularly from the perspective of two politicians who were increasingly frustrated with how power was concentrated in Westminster.
The book was written primarily as an argument for regional mayors and greater devolution, and if it had remained focused on that, I would have had relatively few objections. In fact, I broadly agree with the central argument that more power should be moved away from Westminster and towards the regions. I also liked the example of looking to German regional governance for how we could improve things here (however, they did perhaps sugarcoat the way things were run a bit too much for my taste.
Where I became more sceptical was when the book moved from advocating regional government into proposing a much broader vision for how the country should be run. A surprising amount of what is presented as a vision for the regions is actually national policy rather than regional policy. Some of these are things I agree with: the whip system feels outdated, the House of Lords clearly needs reform, too many MPs have effectively become glorified constituency councillors rather than being able to focus on developing policy, and parts of the legal system do not feel designed around protecting the average citizen. Their criticism of outsourcing to companies — Serco isn't mentioned, but we all know who they're referring to — also struck a chord with me. There is a genuine argument that some of these contracts have represented poor value for money and should be reconsidered. There is a genuine argument for reform in many of these areas, much of which would probably attract bipartisan support three years on from the book's publication.
The problem is that, once the book starts discussing other national policy proposals, it becomes increasingly clear that both authors have a fairly limited view of the UK outside Westminster and the North West. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are often presented as though they have broadly figured things out, while the South West barely seems to exist. The South East, meanwhile, is frequently treated as a largely prosperous part of the country that does not face the same structural problems as elsewhere. That feels like a particularly simplistic view of a region containing places such as Kent and Essex, which have experienced plenty of economic and social problems of their own over the past few decades.
The same issue comes through in their arguments about reindustrialising the North. The idea of a new industrial revolution sounds compelling, but the historical argument behind it feels much less convincing. The original Industrial Revolution was not simply something created by government investment or national policy; much of it emerged from private enterprise, technological development, geography and economic circumstances that the state did not centrally plan. Trying to recreate that process through government policy therefore seems considerably more complicated than the book sometimes acknowledges.
There is also a slightly strange romanticism throughout the book about the North and its industrial past. You can understand why both men feel so strongly about the region and what it represents, but I am not sure that everyone living in the North necessarily wants to return to that identity. In many ways, the growth of technology and other modern industries in cities across the North demonstrates that the region is already developing in ways that have little to do with recreating its industrial past. One also gets a sense that the two misunderstand what Margaret Thatcher did to the North in the 1980s. They repeatedly suggest that many of the North's problems can be traced back to Thatcher, yet the period they themselves seem to long for — the 1970s — was already a period of marked industrial decline. Thatcher undoubtedly accelerated deindustrialisation and did little to cushion its consequences, but she did not cause the process itself. The decline of many of the North's traditional industries had been underway for decades before she came to power.
This is ultimately where I struggled with the book. I applaud Burnham and Rotheram for their genuine love of the UK and for their belief that things can be improved. There is something refreshing about politicians who clearly have a strong sense of place and who are willing to argue that Westminster does not have all the answers.
At the same time, the book sometimes seems to replace one overly Westminster-centric view of Britain with an overly North Western one. Its strongest argument is that Britain needs to distribute power more widely; its weakest arguments are to propose bringing back what "worked" in the 70s - failing to acknowledge the radically changing world in the process.
There is also an interesting, and now rather awkward, aspect to reading the book with hindsight. It was written as an argument for a different kind of politics and greater regional power, but some of the national policies and political reforms proposed here now have the potential to come back to haunt both authors. With Burnham having since become Prime Minister, ideas that once read as theoretical proposals now look much more like a manifesto for a government that has to actually implement them.
Given how broad the proposals the two make are, I was also surprised by how little attention is given to some of the major trade-offs involved in implementing them. You would expect, for example, some discussion of monetary policy or of reforming and restructuring the NHS in order to free up money for some of their other proposals. Instead, these areas are largely left untouched. It makes the vision feel somewhat incomplete: there is a lot of discussion about what government should do differently, but less about what would have to change, or what would have to be sacrificed, to pay for it.
The two also at times express optimism that when Starmer came to power, things would change and that he would change various Tory policies. However, we now know that, faced with the economic realities of the boiler ban and other reforms, he had to buckle and continue on with what the Tories had proposed.
Overall, I found Head North most compelling when Burnham and Rotheram were talking about their own political experiences and making the case for devolution. I was much less convinced when they moved from that argument into prescribing a national future for the entire UK. I came away admiring their enthusiasm and their belief that Britain can be better, while remaining unconvinced that their particular vision is broad enough to account for the country they are trying to change — or that Burnham is the man to implement that vision. I look forward to revisiting this review in the future as we begin to learn more of what Mr Burnham has done during his time as PM.
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April 30, 2024Every policy Burnham and Rotherham are proposing seems essential. Their path forward for a more functioning country comes from lived experience and on-the-ground, community-driven politics; as a result of actually understanding their areas (and the wider picture for the whole country) they communicate an idea that, while about the North/South divide, would go a long way to create a more levelled playing field for the country as a whole. The second half of this book where these propositions and the reasoning behind them is a very propulsive read.
I struggled a bit in the first half, while both men have an endearing candidness to them some of the moments in their political journey didn't necesarilly inform the greater purpose of the text. Of course, I understand why they have made the decision to make this half autobiography and half policy proposal, by being endeared to them and seeing their first hand experiences I imagine it would bring in a wider audience - for me this didn't work.
I would love to see Rotherham and Burnham's propositions to be taken seriously by the incoming government, and that makes this as urgent as a political text can be.
I struggled a bit in the first half, while both men have an endearing candidness to them some of the moments in their political journey didn't necesarilly inform the greater purpose of the text. Of course, I understand why they have made the decision to make this half autobiography and half policy proposal, by being endeared to them and seeing their first hand experiences I imagine it would bring in a wider audience - for me this didn't work.
I would love to see Rotherham and Burnham's propositions to be taken seriously by the incoming government, and that makes this as urgent as a political text can be.
July 25, 2026
In just under 300 pages Burnham and Rotherham set out to explain both of their journeys and experiences in politics and what that time has elucidated for them to be missing/going wrong in Britain and how it can be resolved.
The general structure of the book is a tad confusing, with the sections written by Burnham and Rotherham distinguished through bold and italic text which at times was hard to distinguish. A much smoother way of dividing the two would have been with the ‘Burnham/Rotherham:’ before the paragraph. The resolution, arguably the more important part of the books contents, only spans 106 pages; compared to the draw out part 1 ‘our journey’. This squeeze is noticeable in the lack of depth dedicated to part 2 ‘Our Vision’ which reads as a scattered and underdeveloped. The vision in question is summed up as a 10 point programme in chapter 16 as being (Spoiler alert!):
1. Written constitution
2. A Basic Law
3. Reform of the Voting System
4. Removal of the Whip
5. A Senate of the Nations and Regions
6. Full Devotion
7. Two Equal Paths in Education
8. A Grenfell Law
9. A Hillsborough Law
10. Net Zero to Reindustralise the North
These are all semi-reasonable measures to want to introduce, but the chapters dedicated to each of the policies barely touch on the debate concerning the reason why quite a few of the proposed policies are not feasible. For example, the 10th policy proposes reindustralising the North through making it a centre for green energy, but the actual chapters dedicated does not tackle the fact that in deindustrialising the North all factories have been left in a state of disrepair, completely shut down/built over, or do not have the suitable equipment to be able to make the switch to producing what is needed for the growth of the green energy sector in the UK.
The reason why I decided to read this book was to determine the policies previously proposed by Burnham and to see if those would still be pursued now that he is PM. Only time can tell, but considering he has barely discussed climate change and removing the Whip would herald in unforeseen amounts of disorder (considering how scattered Labour currently is) I don’t have much faith he will follow through completely.
The general structure of the book is a tad confusing, with the sections written by Burnham and Rotherham distinguished through bold and italic text which at times was hard to distinguish. A much smoother way of dividing the two would have been with the ‘Burnham/Rotherham:’ before the paragraph. The resolution, arguably the more important part of the books contents, only spans 106 pages; compared to the draw out part 1 ‘our journey’. This squeeze is noticeable in the lack of depth dedicated to part 2 ‘Our Vision’ which reads as a scattered and underdeveloped. The vision in question is summed up as a 10 point programme in chapter 16 as being (Spoiler alert!):
1. Written constitution
2. A Basic Law
3. Reform of the Voting System
4. Removal of the Whip
5. A Senate of the Nations and Regions
6. Full Devotion
7. Two Equal Paths in Education
8. A Grenfell Law
9. A Hillsborough Law
10. Net Zero to Reindustralise the North
These are all semi-reasonable measures to want to introduce, but the chapters dedicated to each of the policies barely touch on the debate concerning the reason why quite a few of the proposed policies are not feasible. For example, the 10th policy proposes reindustralising the North through making it a centre for green energy, but the actual chapters dedicated does not tackle the fact that in deindustrialising the North all factories have been left in a state of disrepair, completely shut down/built over, or do not have the suitable equipment to be able to make the switch to producing what is needed for the growth of the green energy sector in the UK.
The reason why I decided to read this book was to determine the policies previously proposed by Burnham and to see if those would still be pursued now that he is PM. Only time can tell, but considering he has barely discussed climate change and removing the Whip would herald in unforeseen amounts of disorder (considering how scattered Labour currently is) I don’t have much faith he will follow through completely.
August 26, 2025
As a fellow northerner I was very much looking forward to “Head North”.
It’s core offer is a (semi) radical, progressive, federalist alternative to the Westminster style politics we have seen in the UK over the last 7 decades.
The writing style was very engaging, flipping between Steve and Andy’s perspectives on different issues or eras of politics. With the first half of the book being autobiography’s of their lives.
The second half of the book then lays out their manifesto to redesign and realign the UK. I loved their idea of adopting a German style “Basic Law” that would help to eradicate inequality across the regions. This is a proposal I’ve not seen put forward in any other political book, but one I believe would greatly benefit the UK.
However, I am extremely sceptical about one of their main proposals. Replacing the House of Lords with a senate of the nations and regions. The House of Lords definitely needs reform, but I fear having an elected second chamber will effectively lead it to become a HoC 2.0. Currently, the House of Lords scrutinises legislation far better than the commons, and making the Lords elected will inevitably lead to a decline in this.
Finally, two further thoughts that came to mind while reading the book. Although both Steve and Andy try to make out that the book is not London bashing, it very much comes across this way.
Second, I understand the authors expertise lay here, but it is solely north-west centric. At times it felt as if, especially Andy, was blind to the fact that Manchester is now Englands second city. With their analysis neglecting vast swathes of much more deprived towns and cities in the North. It almost felt like the book should have been titled “Head North-West”.
Anyway they have both been brilliant mayors for Liverpool and Manchester respectively. So much so I hope one returns to Westminster to make a 3rd times a charm Labour leadership bid…
It’s core offer is a (semi) radical, progressive, federalist alternative to the Westminster style politics we have seen in the UK over the last 7 decades.
The writing style was very engaging, flipping between Steve and Andy’s perspectives on different issues or eras of politics. With the first half of the book being autobiography’s of their lives.
The second half of the book then lays out their manifesto to redesign and realign the UK. I loved their idea of adopting a German style “Basic Law” that would help to eradicate inequality across the regions. This is a proposal I’ve not seen put forward in any other political book, but one I believe would greatly benefit the UK.
However, I am extremely sceptical about one of their main proposals. Replacing the House of Lords with a senate of the nations and regions. The House of Lords definitely needs reform, but I fear having an elected second chamber will effectively lead it to become a HoC 2.0. Currently, the House of Lords scrutinises legislation far better than the commons, and making the Lords elected will inevitably lead to a decline in this.
Finally, two further thoughts that came to mind while reading the book. Although both Steve and Andy try to make out that the book is not London bashing, it very much comes across this way.
Second, I understand the authors expertise lay here, but it is solely north-west centric. At times it felt as if, especially Andy, was blind to the fact that Manchester is now Englands second city. With their analysis neglecting vast swathes of much more deprived towns and cities in the North. It almost felt like the book should have been titled “Head North-West”.
Anyway they have both been brilliant mayors for Liverpool and Manchester respectively. So much so I hope one returns to Westminster to make a 3rd times a charm Labour leadership bid…
September 10, 2026
Wow did this come at a great time for me. Such a powerful articulation of a political philosophy for a more equal Britain that totally reframes away from welfare and provides a positive and inclusive blueprint.
Yes, it was self mythologising. The analysis was heavy handed in parts (especially around the supposed and uncosted benefits to the NHS from investing in social care). And some of the cultural references were a little exhausting towards the end.
However, reading the reviews from all the ridiculous toffs twisting about so-called “northern exceptionalism.” Give me a break. Unfortunately that sort of critique just reveals how some can’t accept that the types of people who were at Hillsborough that sad day could grow up to have character like Steve, or campaign as bravely as the families have done. Which only strengthens the overall message of the book.
The whole of Britain needs to be re-inspired by the (often, but not exclusively) northern values that the authors describe. While they have been eroded (in no small part because of austerity) I firmly believe rehabilitating them is the pathway to a more prosperous and equal Britain and I am so grateful to this book for giving me the confidence to say that
Yes, it was self mythologising. The analysis was heavy handed in parts (especially around the supposed and uncosted benefits to the NHS from investing in social care). And some of the cultural references were a little exhausting towards the end.
However, reading the reviews from all the ridiculous toffs twisting about so-called “northern exceptionalism.” Give me a break. Unfortunately that sort of critique just reveals how some can’t accept that the types of people who were at Hillsborough that sad day could grow up to have character like Steve, or campaign as bravely as the families have done. Which only strengthens the overall message of the book.
The whole of Britain needs to be re-inspired by the (often, but not exclusively) northern values that the authors describe. While they have been eroded (in no small part because of austerity) I firmly believe rehabilitating them is the pathway to a more prosperous and equal Britain and I am so grateful to this book for giving me the confidence to say that
August 17, 2026
Forgot to log this one oops but must read for anyone interested in politics.
First half is more auto-biography of Steve and Andy, then second half is their ‘manifesto’ for what would create a more equal Britain.
I especially loved the first half and seeing how life events have impacted their politics, starting with the Hillsborough disaster was really impactful and I think shows how they truly are interested in politics for the effects it has on people’s lives.
It’s interesting now to see the extent the book is mapping onto Burnhams current policies.
First half is more auto-biography of Steve and Andy, then second half is their ‘manifesto’ for what would create a more equal Britain.
I especially loved the first half and seeing how life events have impacted their politics, starting with the Hillsborough disaster was really impactful and I think shows how they truly are interested in politics for the effects it has on people’s lives.
It’s interesting now to see the extent the book is mapping onto Burnhams current policies.
September 5, 2026
Read this book. I have absolute hope right now for this country. As a born southerner who has chosen to live & stay in the North of the country I enjoyed listening to these two.
My opinions have changed greatly since moving & I’m proud to be a part of the north west community.
It doesn’t matter whether you agree or not. It’s a great read to understand what has not been discussed or reported.
We all need to have some amazing people to fight for justice & for Andy Burnham & Steve Rotherham to be those men. I applaud them - amongst others who helped.
My opinions have changed greatly since moving & I’m proud to be a part of the north west community.
It doesn’t matter whether you agree or not. It’s a great read to understand what has not been discussed or reported.
We all need to have some amazing people to fight for justice & for Andy Burnham & Steve Rotherham to be those men. I applaud them - amongst others who helped.
May 19, 2024
As a Midlander living in the North, this book really spoke to me. I often struggle to articulate my feelings when it comes to politics and the angst I feel in relation to the Tories. So to read a book with such an honest, passionate and often damning view of politics was really refreshing. Andy and Steve make a compelling case for true devolution in Britain, taking the power out of the hands of a few select politicians in London and allowing regions outside of the capital to drive real change.
August 17, 2026
Really liked this book as it articulated a clear vision for changing Britain in a way that is not unimaginable. I agreed with most, if not all of the ideas, specifically the importance that they placed on place and devolution of power. Only 4 stars because it’s light on climate / agriculture crisis we are in and the issue of migration which, I think must be clearly addressed by any politician given it’s such a big issue in public discourse.
September 28, 2026
This book was good in the first half, eh in the second.
I liked reading the first half, it was interesting hearing both stories of upbringing, and how it shaped them as people and politicians.
The second half felt like they were trying to draw out the book to reach a word count, and I ended up doing something I never usually do...skim reading 😱
Good pick for book club though though, it pushed me to read something I wouldn't have usually read!
I liked reading the first half, it was interesting hearing both stories of upbringing, and how it shaped them as people and politicians.
The second half felt like they were trying to draw out the book to reach a word count, and I ended up doing something I never usually do...skim reading 😱
Good pick for book club though though, it pushed me to read something I wouldn't have usually read!
August 25, 2025
Radical, trailblazing! Proud to be from Greater Manchester and The North reading this, two leaders with their heads in the right place and who understand the importance of places to people. A good, honest and damning critique of Westminster and its lack of interest and compassion for anywhere outside of London and the South East. A well written, hopeful read.
January 2, 2026
This book made me feel hopeful for a future with a more equal Britain, whilst equally making me so frustrated at the current state of the country.
It was inspiring to see how clearly Burnham and Rotherham set out their vision for the future, and incredible how starkly this contrasts with the current government’s distinct lack of vision.
It was inspiring to see how clearly Burnham and Rotherham set out their vision for the future, and incredible how starkly this contrasts with the current government’s distinct lack of vision.
August 2, 2026
So much of this book makes me feel hopeful for the future, particularly now as Andy Burnham has the authority as PM to see this daring vision realised. I am particularly excited by the ideas around housing, social care, a green re-industrialised North, devolution and constitutional reform. This is truly a manifesto for how Britain can and should work.
August 27, 2026
Listened to the audio book which I liked as I got to hear a lovely scouse accent from Steve.
Enjoyed the book though. It was insightful. I listened to learn a bit more about Andy burnhams thoughts. Overall I think he’s a good guy and I like his approach to politics - it feels different. Feeling pretty positive abt him being the pm!
Enjoyed the book though. It was insightful. I listened to learn a bit more about Andy burnhams thoughts. Overall I think he’s a good guy and I like his approach to politics - it feels different. Feeling pretty positive abt him being the pm!
September 10, 2026
An interesting book with present and new idea, a good read to understand the psychology of the new PM, although perhaps falls at points into a populist us vs them narrative in regards to Manchester, but the broken house metaphor of why improvements up north improve London and the south were good. Overall a book worth reading even just for the author.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 17, 2026
Very interesting to see the vision (especially as moves are made to move closer towards it). I listened to some of this on audiobook and enjoyed the authors reading it to me. Sometimes a little repetitive (hence knocked off a star). Ultimately I feel jealous of my sister who moved to Manchester seven years ago.
January 17, 2026
An excellent treatise on how a localised, federal Britain could mark a new era of prosperity. Burnham and Rotherham’s ability to blend the personal and political is a testament to their northern roots. A must read for anyone frustrated with modern UK politics.
July 28, 2026
I wanted to read this book before Andy Burnham became PM. It's reassuring to see that a few days into this role, he has already started taking steps in the direction described in the manifesto section of this book. Very readable and the work of these two politicians is inspiring.
August 23, 2026
Intressant att få lite bakgrund om Andy Burnham. Gripande om Hillsboroughkarastrofen. Mycket fokus på UK förstås, intressant hur deras stad och land-debdtt skiljer sig mycket från oss. Känns inte som att någon svensk politiker idag driver att makt ska från staten till kommunerna/regionerna.
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