Politics · 23 August 2026

Burnham's UK 'rewiring' plan finds inspiration in Spain's Bilbao

Andy Burnham's idea to move power and money from London might find its blueprint in Bilbao, Spain, which rebuilt its economy. Bilbao, once a struggling port city with 25% unemployment in the 1980s, transformed itself after deindustrialisation by gaining devolved tax powers. Now a hub for clean energy, manufacturing, and tourism, it keeps about 90% of local income taxes, unlike UK cities.

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