Burnham breaks silence with major statement on Keir Starmer’s future | Politics | News
Labour’s big beast, Andy Burnham, has finally issued a statement of support for Keir Starmer after more than a day of remarkable silence amid the ongoing leadership crisis. Yesterday, Keir Starmer managed to co-ordinate supportive statements from the likes of Angela Rayner, as well as the entire cabinet, for him to continue as Prime Minister.
But Mr Burnham did not publish a similar message on social media, suggesting he supported efforts to remove Sir Keir from Downing Street after he was blocked from standing as a candidate in the Gorton and Denton by-elections. Speaking at the Resolution Foundation think tank this afternoon, Mr Burnham said Keir Starmer had finally “got my support” but now a radical change in both policy and the workings of government must take place. Mr Burnham said: “Yes, I have my backing. The Government has my backing.”
Labor’s great leader has said he believes Labor must come together now to make radical change and reduce the cost of living if it is to defeat Reformation UK.
Mr Burnham called for “root and branch political reform in Whitehall” and widespread changes to the Government, the MP whipping system and the House of Lords.
The Mayor of Manchester Metro said: “With the right action, I believe it is possible for Britain to save itself from the housing crisis and cost of living crisis within a decade.
“I also believe that in order to build this new economy, we must first create a new policy.
“I would say that our national political system is too short-term, too focused on scoring points and concentrating power in too few hands.
“We will need this new political culture if we are to undertake the heavy lifting of repairing Britain’s foundations.
“I believe this requires electoral reform, reform of the whip system and, thirdly, reform of the upper house
Mr Burnham refused to comment on Wes Streeting’s leadership manoeuvres, claiming the Labor chaos of the last few days had “drawn a thick line under a political culture that is so close to wealth and power and so far removed from the lives of the people we’re talking about today”.
“I think there should be more [change] it’s about relentlessly focusing on those things, though and now.”
“What I am calling for today is unity to create stability and to provide a platform for the government to focus on everything I talked about today. We must move away from the feeling that everything is a challenge.” [to Starmer’s leadership].
“We need to cut back on all these constant briefings. There seems to be no end to the anonymous briefings that are happening around us.”
He said Labour’s sole focus in the short term should now be winning the Gorton by-election and defeating Reform. Mr Burnham added: “This is what I will say to you all today: [it] It’s winnable for Labor.”
