Zia Yusuf opens fire on Andy Burnham – ‘Foisted on Britain’ | Politics | News
Reform England’s Zia Yusuf echoed Nigel Farage’s call for a general election, claiming interim prime minister Andy Burnham had “deceived” the public. Reform’s home affairs spokesman Yusuf said that if the newly elected MP for Makerfield was a “decent man” he would “put his case to the British people” and call a general election.
Speaking to BBC’s Question Time, Youssef said: “I can’t believe we’re back here again. The Conservatives have given us five prime ministers in six years; this is yet again a situation where a career politician who has never had a decent job in his life is thrust upon the British people as prime minister without them having any say.” He added: “0.03% of British people voted for Andy Burnham.”
Mr Yusuf was discussing whether Mr Burnham was the ‘savior of Labor and the country’ alongside a panel including Labor chairman Emily Thornberry of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee and Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake.
A key reform figure asked the audience at Kettering to raise their hands to see if they saw Mr Burnham’s vision for the United Kingdom.
About a dozen people in the roughly 90 audience members raised their hands.
Mr. Yusuf continued: “Of course we know this about Andy Burnham. He has already become the king of the U-turn, he has not even become a prime minister yet.”
He added: “Whatever your politics, I think one of the reasons why we have this endless conga of clown prime ministers in this country who fail to govern on behalf of the British people is that you need a mandate.
“You’ve seen all this nonsense with Shabana Mahmood and Mike Tapp having a tweet war against each other; not a single Labor Secretary is currently focused on what’s running for the British people.
“If Andy Burnham were a decent man, and perhaps he is, then he would present his case to the British people, draw up a manifesto and call a general election.”
The former Greater Manchester mayor returned to Westminster on Monday and could become Prime Minister as soon as July 20 if he remains the sole candidate to replace Sir Keir Starmer.
If no other candidates come forward, he is expected to be officially declared Labor leader at a special conference on July 17, the day after nominations close for the position.
However, it is understood that he will not become prime minister immediately, as the official transfer will take place on July 20, the next business day, in accordance with the party’s previous practice.
