Andy Burnham sent grim Reform warning – ‘he’ll lose for one reason’ | Politics | News
Former MP Steve Baker says Andy Burnham will lose by-election (Image: Getty)
Andy Burnham has been warned he cannot be persuaded of the reasons he wants to become an MP UK Reformation Voters in Makerfield. Former Conservative MP Steve Baker told James Heale, host of the Spectator’s Coffee House Shots podcast, that Mr Burnham could be the “King of the North” in Manchester, but warned: “People don’t like to be underestimated and they like to be appreciated.
“So the voters in Makerfield now know that they really matter to the life of the nation… I suspect they will be careful about what they do. The same people who just voted for Reform, when asked to vote for the Mayor [Greater] “Manchester is going back to Parliament to become prime minister, so this isn’t about them, is it?”
Although Mr Burnham has announced his desire to stand for Makerfield, Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) is yet to confirm the party’s candidate for the June 18 by-election.
READ MORE: John Curtice announces his verdict on Makerfield by-election
READ MORE: Labor faces fury over claims of ‘£10.2bn in aid to foreign nationals’
Steve Baker predicted Mr Burnham would lose (Image: Getty)
The NEC gave Mr Burnham permission to take part in the selection process for the by-election on Friday, May 15.
Mr Baker suggested Mr Burnham could not win in Makerfield as he had already lost Labor voters in Manchester, adding: “This is a great test of his personality and whether feeling can trump intention for the whole nation.”
Mr Burnham told Channel 4 News on Saturday (May 16) that he was focusing on winning a seat in Parliament rather than removing Sir Keir as Prime Minister.
He said: “That’s not the issue. It’s winning. From what I’ve said, winning the byelection, you know, it’s not necessarily about the next thing.”
The mayor is seen as Sir Keir’s biggest rival for the leadership.
According to Mr Baker, Labor is also getting “just the sweetheart” of creating misery for the Conservatives during the 14 years the party has been in power.
The former Wycombe MP said the current anger at Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership would be entertaining, but not because it affected the future of the country.
Recalling past efforts to oust prime ministers, Mr Baker said it was about numbers and finding enough MPs to support a rival challenger.
This requires “relentless” commitment, he said, while also maintaining friendly relations with those who need support.
The former politician suggested Labor MPs were approaching the potential contest too aggressively, “without regard” for party unity.
Mr Baker said that for him, removing a leader was simply about achieving a policy goal and making sure his party could achieve it.
He suggested the idea of Mr Burnham stepping in and solving Labor’s problems was “for the birds”. The former MP said of Mr Burnham: “He’s not as good as people think.”
Mr Burnham told Channel 4 he had spent his entire career fighting for people in the north, adding that “a moment of great change is needed” in British politics.
Elsewhere, a mayor told the BBC he wanted to stand in the Makerfield by-election to “save” Labor, which suffered disastrous results in elections in Scotland, Wales and England earlier this month.
