UK Blog: A Changing of the Guard? What 'Manchesterism' Means for the UK

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UK Blog: A Changing of the Guard? What 'Manchesterism' Means for the UK

Deutsche Bank

Research

Europe Economics Date

United Kingdom 18 May 2026

UK Blog

A Changing of the Guard? What

'Manchesterism' Means for the UK

Sanjay Raja

On May 15, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham received the green light for

Chief UK Economist

a potential return to Westminster. To be sure, financial markets have rarely given +44-20-754-50530

such attention to by-elections. This one, however, will matter, with hugely

consequential implications for macroeconomic policy. Indeed, Burnham's return

as an MP could set in motion a shift in the Labour leadership towards the soft-left

of the Labour Party.

In this blog, we look at what a national 'Manchesterism' agenda could look like –

building on the principles set out by the Greater Manchester Mayor. We highlight

five pillars that could shape the near future of UK politics.

What is 'Manchesterism'?

Andy Burnham has spent nine years building something in Greater Manchester.

But what is 'Manchesterism'?

Burnham himself defined it plainly: "a distinct economic and political model rooted

in devolution, long-term planning, and good growth ... a deliberate response to the

high-inequality, low-growth trap Britain fell into from the 1980s onwards, when

power was over-centralised in Westminster and key public institutions were

fragmented or privatised."

It's hard to dismiss some of the headline impacts of 'Manchesterism'. Since the

creation of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, the city-region's economy

has grown at an average of 3.1% annually (2015 to 2023) — more than double the

national rate. And while national productivity has stagnated for much of the last

decade and beyond, Greater Manchester has seen a strong increase in productivity