Burnham allies savage Streeting as Labour descends into Brexit war | UK | News
Andy Burnham’s allies have reportedly launched a furious attack on Wes Streeting, accusing him of deliberately sabotaging the mayor’s path to Downing Street by reigniting Labour’s Brexit fight and giving Nigel Farage a gift in the process.
The bitter split erupted after Mr Streeting, who resigned as health secretary last week, spent the weekend calling for Britain to rejoin the European Union, describing Brexit as a “catastrophic mistake”. He told supporters: “Britain’s future is in Europe and one day it will return to the European Union.”
Why are Burnham’s allies so angry with Streeting?
Mr Burnham’s camp is understood to have interpreted the move as a deliberate act of political sabotage, an attempt to flood the Makerfield contest with Brexit noise in a seat the mayor, who has staked his entire leadership claim on winning, cannot afford to lose.
One Burnham ally was reportedly blunt: “Wes’ only hope of becoming the next leader is for Andy to lose the byelection. [Streeting’s] Comments… are counterproductive to Labor winning this by-election. It’s very transparent.”
A senior government source went further: “I’m desperate. This is like a gift to Farage. What Wes is doing smacks of desperation and selfishness.” An MP close to Mr Burnham described the move as Mr Streeting’s “roll of the dice” and said he could “see the writing on the wall”, while a friend of the mayor said he was “clearly trying to create a dividing line”.
What did Labor ministers say about the Burnham-Streeting row?
The public row led one cabinet minister to say the battle between the two men had left Sir Keir Starmer looking like an “island of stability and sanity” and called on both to step back from the brink, The Times reported.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, widely seen as an ally of Burnham, publicly rebuked Mr Streeting, warning Labor against a “restart of the Brexit wars” and likening the prospect to declaring “life was good in 2015, we just need to get back there”. Connor Naismith, Labor MP for Crewe and Nantwich, welcomed Mr Burnham and made it clear that “Britain’s priority should be domestic matters here and now, not reopening a debate about Europe.”
What did Streeting’s allies say?
A source close to Mr Streeting pushed back, suggesting Mr Burnham’s position was not particularly controversial given he also supports EU membership. “I thought they agreed on this,” the source said. “The problem is that we’re so worried that if we do something that causes us to do nothing, there might be people who disagree with us. “We’re in a situation where the last parliament was the worst parliament in history in terms of living standards, and this is the second. [worst]. “The only way we can get out of this decline is if we take on these big problems and tackle them head on.”
What is Keir Starmer doing amid Labor leadership chaos?
Behind the scenes, the Prime Minister appears to be divided; He was pulled in different directions by advisers who disagreed on whether he should immediately set a departure timetable or sit back and see what the Makerfield vote would bring.
No 10’s calculation is simple: Burnham’s win makes Starmer’s position untenable. But those loyal to the Prime Minister see a different path; Along the way, a stumble by Mr. Burnham at Makerfield leaves Sir Keir strong enough to beat Mr. Streeting in any subsequent contest.
The Times also revealed that former deputy chancellor Angela Rayner was approached by No 10 to take over as health minister from Mr Streeting, but she turned down the offer.
Is the Makerfield byelection now about Brexit?
Farage made his intentions clear, telling The Times voters would face a direct choice: “Reform wanting to stay out of the EU” [and] Control immigration” and said Labor “wants to rejoin the EU and open borders”. He branded the mayor “Burnham’s borders are open”.
Mr Burnham sought to limit the damage by claiming that although there was a “case” for rejoining the EU, he would not “advocate” it during the by-election campaign. But his words at last September’s Labor Party conference are already being used against him. He told delegates: “In the long run – I’ll be honest, I will say this – I want to rejoin this.”
Those around him acknowledge the extent of the problem. More people voted for Reform in Makerfield than in any other Labor-held seat at the general election. Josh Simons, the MP who stood aside to make room for Mr Burnham, told the BBC Labor would face an “existential crisis” if it lost the seat.
Despite the turbulence, Mr. Burnham’s campaign team remains confident in their strategy. A local source said simply: “We’ll be putting his face absolutely everywhere.”
