Burnham’s had his celeb mates on the campaign trail and MPs flood up in last ditch effort – but Reeves steers clear
Andy Burnham organized celebrities to campaign with him at Makerfield as a last-ditch effort to gain support from voters ahead of polling day.
Mr Burnham was joined by actor Hugh Grant and comedian Steve Coogan, who said he was “fighting on every front” to win during the final throes of the by-election campaign.
Mr Grant was seen attending a rally at Mr Burnham’s Makerfield campaign headquarters on the eve of election day, where the Labor candidate vowed to ‘change politics’.
Meanwhile, comedian Steve Coogan turned up at the Mayor of Manchester’s doorstep days ago.
Mr Coogan said: ‘Andy wanted a slightly classier celebrity to support his campaign but had to put up with me instead.’
The so-called ‘King in the North’ used the Makerfield by-election as a route back to Westminster; If successful, he is expected to challenge Sir Keir for the leadership.
But the celebrity presence has raised fears that if Mr Burnham obtains the keys to No10, he will launch the second phase of the Leveson inquiry into allegations of illegal collection of information by media organisations.
Both stars have been linked to the Hacked Off campaign, which was created in response to media allegations of phone hacking.
Hugh Grant was seen attending a rally at Mr Burnham’s Makerfield campaign headquarters on the eve of election day; Here the Labor candidate promised to ‘change politics’.
Comedian Steve Coogan (back left) joins the Mayor of Manchester on the doorstep
Andy Burnham organized celebrities to campaign with him at Makerfield as a last-ditch effort to win voters’ support ahead of polling day
Disgraced former House of Commons Speaker John Bercow was also spotted campaigning for Mr Burnham at Makerfield, sparking outrage from viewers.
Mr Bercow was photographed leaving Mr Burnham’s campaign headquarters in Makerfield, despite being administratively suspended by Labor four years ago following a damning bullying report into his behavior while serving as speaker.
A ‘significant number’ of Labor supporters traveled to the Greater Manchester constituency on Thursday to rally behind Mr Burnham, according to Labor sources.
The party also had ‘four-figure numbers’ of activists pounding the streets, making 120 ‘contacts’ with Makerfield residents every minute.
And Cabinet members and supporters alike rushed to Mr Burnham’s side on Thursday to show allegiance to the Mayor of Manchester; If the Mayor of Manchester becomes Prime Minister, he is likely to install his favorite allies in senior roles.
Lucy Powell, who beat Sir Keir’s preferred candidate Bridget Phillipson in the Labor Party deputy leadership contest, and Al Carns, who quit as armed forces secretary last week, were photographed at Mr Burnham’s campaign headquarters.
Angela Rayner and Natalie Fleet were also knocking on the Mayor of Manchester’s door.
Starmer loyalist Darren Jones helped out at Makerfield on Thursday, while Rachel Reeves, whose fate in government is closely tied to Sir Keir’s, was in Westminster yesterday morning.
