Labour MPs form new squad to ensure Burnham keeps key pledge

Labour MPs are demanding Andy Burnham sets a target of creating one million jobs in production over the next decade as part of a reindustrialisation strategy.

Senior MPs have formed a new Reindustrialisation Research Group (ReRG), which will advance policies and scrutinise proposals from the new prime minister on reversing the decline of manufacturing in the UK.

The group has been styled on the Tories' European Research Group – a formerly powerful caucus of Eurosceptic MPs who had a significant impact on Conservative Party politics for decades and played a crucial role in Theresa May's downfall.

MPs involved in the ReRG insist their aim is not to be a thorn in Mr Burnham's side but rather to hold him to his promises on creating jobs outside the big cities while having influence over policy.

The prime minister-in-waiting has positioned reindustrialisation as a core pillar of his economic vision, along with devolution, saying in a speech last month that he wanted to "support every region to set clear and credible industrial ambitions".

However, with less than a week to go before he officially takes over from Sir Keir Starmer, details on how he will achieve his aims remain vague.

There have been four industrialisation strategies since 2017, and there is concern among Labour MPs that Mr Burnham could oversee another failed one without a definition of what that means in practice and an ambitious jobs target to go with it.

The ReRG, convened by the MP for Rossendale and Darwen, Andy MacNae, defines reindustrialisation as making more things in more places and bringing good jobs close to home.

Launching officially today, they are proposing a target of creating an additional one million jobs in production-based industries above their current level over the next decade, with a total number of people employed in these sectors standing at 4.56m by 2036.

MPs' warning to Burnham

Mr MacNae told Sky News: "We need to bring good jobs, opportunity and hope back into every community. Reversing deindustrialisation is central to this. This means rebalancing our economy towards greater production – whether in agriculture, critical minerals, industry or energy."

He added: "This needs real ambition and policies that are intensely practical.

"The Reindustrialisation Research Group is calling for a bold target of one million new jobs in production. This is the scale we need to deliver change in every neighbourhood.

"We will work to develop and stress test the policies to achieve this, whilst challenging the economic orthodoxies that could hold us back."

Around 30 MPs have been involved in the group's launch. Figures include Yuan Yang, who co-chairs the soft left Tribune group, and Jonathan Hinder, a leading member of the socially conservative Blue Labour group.

The ReRG has also convened members of groups such as the Red Wall, Coastal Communities Group and Rural Research Group, including Chris Bloore, Andrew Ranger, Steve Yemm, Noah Law, Lorraine Beavers and Connor Naismith.

It is hoped this can be used as a base to build support across all parts of the PLP while working alongside unions, economists and other experts.

The ReRG is being supported by the Independent Commission on Neighbourhoods (ICON), which was set up by Sir Keir to explore issues facing England's most deprived neighbourhoods.

ICON's research has found the most deprived neighbourhoods are concentrated in post-industrial towns and coastal communities where a loss of manufacturing jobs is driving high levels of unemployment.

'The Maker-things test'

Reform UK are performing well in these areas. Mr Burnham has vowed to see off the threat by subjecting policies to the "Makerfield test" – i.e., if they can work to improve the lives of people living in places like his constituency of Makerfield.

In their first research paper, the ReRG say Labour "will not pass the Makerfield test if we do not pass the 'Maker-things Test'".

They call reindustrialisation a social and economic mission which can tackle the cost-of-living crisis by boosting wages through better-paid jobs and reducing inflation through an increase in production.

The paper acknowledges a target of one million jobs is not without trade-offs – estimating that would require at least an additional £645bn of capital stock over the next decade into the production sectors of the economy.

But in its mission statement, the ReRG argues governments have failed to reindustrialise for 40 years, so "policy and resources must match the scale of the challenge". They vow to "monitor and scrutinise the proposals from government to ensure that they meet the public's desire for change".

Mr Burnham will officially become prime minister on Monday following Sir Keir's resignation. He needed 81 nominations to stand in a leadership contest but will take over unchallenged after 349 colleagues backed him, making it mathematically impossible for anyone else to run.

(c) Sky News 2026: Labour MPs form new squad to ensure Burnham keeps key pledge