Blurb:

From transforming health and social care to boosting education and making our economy work better for everyone, Prime Minister Andy Burnham outlines his ambitious plan to help fix Britain. Written with the Mayor of the Liverpool City Region Steve Rotheram, they discuss the challenges and lessons learned throughout their lives, including how the Hillsborough disaster shaped them, their time in Westminster witnessing its systematic flaws, becoming Mayors up North and showing how they have led two of the country’s fastest growing city regions. Building on this, Andy and Steve offer a comprehensive ten-point plan that would completely rewire our country.

A timely discussion around power and devolution, a razor-sharp analysis of the failed promises of ‘levelling up’ and an inspiring call for change, Head North outlines how we can spread political and economic power throughout the UK and push forward for a fairer future.

Review:

I chose Head North for my September reading challenge because politics is out of my comfort zone! It affects all of us, but I often worry that political content will be too dry or go over my head. I’m pleased to report that Head North confounded neither of these worries, and I actually found it an accessible, insightful and interesting book on many levels. 

Head North opens with accounts from both authors of their experiences of the Hillsborough disaster, one of whom was present at the match and the other who was living near Liverpool in the aftermath. This disaster is one with which most readers will be familiar, and of which some will have memories, so I found this an accessible way into speaking about the issues with Westminster protocol and the legal system, which I had not fully realised previously. 

Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram both come across to me through this book as down to earth people who are proud of their roots and grateful for the opportunities they have had. This is an important part of the book for me in terms of being able to relate to it and be receptive to the ideas within it. 

As a resident of the North (although not the areas represented by the authors) I am aware of the North-South divide, but had not fully understood why it existed or the ways these authors had attempted to address them during their time in office. I found their analysis of the situation fascinating and they make some really compelling arguments for the way in which it could be improved for people in the North. 

Head North was published in March 2024, since which time there has been a change of government and Andy Burnham is now Prime Minister. This ages the book slightly, but I’m interested to see how much of his vision he is able to implement. I imagine he doesn’t have much time to write an update chapter now! 

Head North is available from Amazon.

You can find out more about my reading challenge and sponsor me here.