What does Michael Gove say about Andy Burnham and Abu Dhabi money in Manchester?

Michael Gove said he does not blame Andy Burnham, because the UAE's role in Manchester's economy and in Manchester City's success predates his time as mayor. But he said Manchester's rise cannot be told without Emirati money, which raises hard questions now that the Premier League case suggests an unfair sporting advantage. Alastair Campbell noted that large parts of the city are owned by Abu Dhabi through the Manchester Life joint venture.

• Campbell said the Manchester Life land came on 990-year leases, which Richard Leese defends as derelict brownfield nobody else would develop.
• Both credited Richard Leese and Howard Bernstein with building Manchester's success on foreign investment.

Source: our own transcription of the episode. The full conversation is on The Rest Is Politics (2026-10-07). Read the whole episode summary →

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