Trapeze lands rallying cry for a more equal Britain by the Mayors of Manchester and Liverpool

Trapeze has signed Look North! A Rallying Cry for a More Equal Britain by the Mayors of Greater Manchester and the Liverpool City region, Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram.

Assistant editor Tierney Witty acquired UK and Commonwealth rights directly from the authors, and Trapeze will publish on 18th January 2024 in hardback, export trade paperback, audiobook and e-book. The book is being written with the support of Liam Thorp, political editor at the Liverpool Echo. 

In the book, Burnham and Rotheram share their experiences of modern politics, “offering a new vision for Britain with realistic steps to create a fairer future for all”, the publisher says, adding that “at its core, Look North! is a timely discussion centring northern voices and culture, platforming devolution and highlighting the failed promises of ‘levelling up’ from successive Tory Prime Ministers. It is a firm message to the Westminster elite that things can, will and are changing, and that the North will not sit on the side-lines.”

Witty said: “As a northerner who is based in Hachette’s Manchester office, it is an honour to be publishing Andy and Steve’s début book. Their vision for a new Britain is inspirational and a real possibility that will redistribute political, economic and social power throughout the country and away from Westminster. Trapeze is thrilled to be publishing their ambitious and thought-provoking work that promises to be a statement for our list and one of the biggest political narratives of 2024.”

Burnham said: “Back in 2016, we decided together to leave Westminster. We had had enough. It was clear we could never achieve the changes we wanted for the North of England by staying. It was time to try something different. This book will tell the story of our journey to that point and explain why we finally ran out of patience with a Westminster system which does not treat all people and all parts of the country equally.

“It will chronicle our attempts to build a new political voice for the North through English devolution. And it will set out a radical plan to re-wire this country and make it work better for everyone everywhere.”

Rotheram commented: “This is our opportunity to tell the story of how the divergence and convergence of our journeys shaped our politics – and in turn helped us to shape the regions we are so fortunate to represent as Metro Mayors. But we are only scratching the surface of what devolution can do to unleash the North’s potential.

“Our recollections of Westminster life, our experiences of recent political history and our proposals for ‘Devolution for All’ will hopefully provide an insight into the frustrations and the trials and tribulations, but also the determination, the painful progress and the triumphs that make politics such a fascination for so many people.”