Full Breakdown
Burnham unveils GB Grid at Labour conference, pledges public control of electricity
By Drooid · · How we work
Announcement of GB Grid
At the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, Prime Minister Andy Burnham used his first speech as party leader to announce the creation of GB Grid, a government-backed body that will invest in the United Kingdom’s electricity transmission network. The body will draw on a £4 billion pot previously allocated to Great British Energy and will operate alongside privately owned firms such as National Grid.
Background to public electricity investment
Since the 1980s, Britain’s transmission and distribution systems have been privately owned. Rising wholesale prices and a “cost crisis” for businesses and households have prompted Labour to challenge the market-driven model.
Funding and expected impact
GB Grid will have access to £4 billion but is not required to spend the entire amount. Officials said the funding will be used to:
- Build additional grid connections for new developments, addressing long-standing delays.
- Expand and accelerate renewable energy integration across the UK.
The government also plans to broaden the right of businesses to fund their own connections, a measure that officials claim helped speed up connections in Ireland by 11 months.
Official statements
Burnburn added that fiscal stability is essential before pursuing larger reforms.
Protests and opposition
A silent-sign-holding vigil organized by Defend Our Juries was staged outside the conference centre to protest the UK’s proscription of Palestine Action as a terrorist group. The group described the protest as an “integrity test” of Burnham’s commitment to ending Britain’s “complicity in Israel’s horrific crimes.”
On-the-ground reports
More than 3,600 people have been arrested nationwide since the July 2025 ban on Palestine Action, with organisers expecting “several hundred” additional arrests at the Liverpool vigil.
Conflicting reports & gaps
Sources agree on the £4 billion allocation but differ on how much will be spent on new connections versus renewable projects. No detailed breakdown has been released, leaving uncertainty about the timeline for specific investments.
Verbatim quotes
- “I think the public want to see, number one, honesty about things. So not spin or putting things a certain way that’s self-serving.” — Andy Burnham
- “Nobody will be in any doubt about what I’m trying to do.” — Andy Burnham
- “If Burnham means what he says, that he plans to end Britain’s complicity in Israel’s horrific crimes, then he would stop the arrests of people peacefully demonstrating.” — Defend Our Juries
- “I think the interests of a Labour leader who wants to keep the Labour Party together … is to try and defang this issue as much as possible.” — Colm Murphy, senior lecturer, Queen Mary University
What’s next
- 28 October – Autumn budget, where Chancellor John Healey is expected to outline fiscal measures affecting GB Grid.
- 25 November – Energy regulator will announce the next price-cap for January, a key benchmark for household electricity costs.
Burnham’s GB Grid announcement marks the first publicly owned player in Britain’s electricity networks since privatisation and sets the stage for further policy moves as the Labour government navigates a challenging economic backdrop.