Prime Minister Andy Burnham signals openness to devolution for Shropshire and Wales

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has expressed openness to various devolution proposals during his first Prime Minister's Questions since being elected in July.

Addressing concerns from North Shropshire MP Helen Morgan, Burnham suggested a devolution deal for Shropshire could be possible, provided it is based on a single, unitary local government system rather than a two-tier system. He noted that a similar model has been proposed for Cornwall.

In a separate discussion regarding Wales, Burnham indicated he is open to conversations with the Welsh Government about devolving policing powers. While he did not offer a guarantee, he stated his willingness to explore the issue as part of wider policing reforms, drawing on his experience as a former mayor. The proposal has met with mixed reactions, including criticism from some Labour MPs who argued such a move would not be in the interests of Wales.