Cabinet Minister Peter Kyle takes swipe at PM hopeful Andy Burnham | Politics | News
Labor Cabinet Minister Peter Kyle has launched a veiled attack on Andy Burnham, insisting that “entitlement is not a qualification for leadership”. The Business Secretary publicly criticized the mayor of Greater Manchester, who is seeking to return to Parliament with the Makerfield by-election later this month and potentially replace Sir Keir Starmer in Downing Street, criticizing “people who want to put themselves forward in moments of instability”.
Mr Kyle also said Labor had failed to learn the lessons of the Conservative Party when it came to changing leaders. He told reporters at a luncheon in Westminster: “I don’t think we’ve learned any lessons from the Conservative Party in government; every time there was a problem with the government there was only one solution and that was to change the leader at the top.”
Mr Kyle said: “There was never any recognition in the Conservative Party at the time that the difficulties they were facing were related to a program of government… and they always felt that changing the person at the top would solve the problem.”
He expressed his “disappointment” at his party’s failure to learn this lesson and criticized colleagues who “blamed one person” and “failed to accept responsibility for our collective effort as a Government”. The Conservative Party had five Prime Ministers between 2010 and 2024.
Sir Keir’s position remains precarious following Labor’s defeat in local and devolved elections; Former Health Minister and leadership hopeful Wes Streeting, a close friend of Mr Kyle, also has his sights set on the top job.
Mr Burnham replacing Sir Keir would be the biggest risk to sterling and government bonds, according to a scathing analysis.
Financial services company Ebury has raised the alarm over the threat to sterling from a “Labour leadership crisis”.
The analysis says Burnham’s victory on June 18 “will represent the most significant shift to the left.”
Ebury classed the Mayor of Greater Manchester as a “high” market risk and said there was a 60% chance of him taking over.
The analysis states: “Given that she appears to have more than enough support among Labor Party members and MPs to trigger and, more importantly, win a leadership contest, we think Burnham winning here would more or less clear her path to Downing Street.”
“While this does not automatically appoint him prime minister, Keir Starmer is almost certain to tender his immediate resignation at this point.”
Mr Burnham’s team tried to calm markets last month by saying the Government would stick to spending limits. However, Ebury described it as “the biggest risk to sterling and gold due to expectations of higher spending, borrowing and taxation”.
The so-called “King of the North” will join other candidates in the race to replace Josh Simons on the BBC’s Question Time on Thursday night.
Rupert Lowe criticized the state broadcaster’s decision to exclude his party from the special as “the most blatant example of bias” he has seen at the BBC.
Restore Britain’s candidate Rebecca Shepherd will not appear on the programme, despite coming in third place in the tight race behind Labor and Reform.
