Burnham Confirms Labour Leadership Bid if Makerfield Win

Andy Burnham has officially declared his intention to run for Labour leader and prime minister if he secures victory in the upcoming Makerfield by-election on June 18. The announcement came during a BBC Question Time special held in Greater Manchester, where Burnham stated that if elected, he would seek to represent the constituency at the highest level and join any ongoing leadership contest.

The move follows weeks of speculation about his political ambitions and potential challenge to Sir Keir Starmer's leadership. During the event, Burnham outlined his plans for government, emphasizing the need to bring more left-wingers into his cabinet and prioritize reforms in the creaking social care system. He suggested that the UK may not have left the EU if he had been Labour leader a decade ago.

The by-election is seen as a critical moment for UK politics, with analysts suggesting it could shape the country's future political leadership. Voters in Ashton-in-Makerfield are being described as 'the kingmakers' or 'the king destroyers,' emphasizing the constituency's pivotal role in this election.

Meanwhile, Reform UK candidate Robert Kenyon challenged Burnham's ambitions during the BBC Question Time special, stating that voters wanted more 'normal people in politics.' Kenyon argued for candidates who care about their communities and do not use political offices as stepping stones. Conservative candidate Michael Winstanley also criticized Burnham's decision to run for prime minister so soon after being elected mayor.

Burnham faced pushback from both opponents and allies regarding his leadership aspirations. Labour allies of Sir Keir have poked fun at Mr Burnham ahead of the expected leadership challenge, while others are said to be resisting pleas to campaign in Makerfield. Business Secretary Peter Kyle cautioned against crediting those who 'want to thrust themselves forward at moments of instability.'

The political landscape has shifted significantly following May's local elections, where Reform won 1,257 seats and 10 councils. In Makerfield, Reform took every council ward. The first poll of the by-election campaign suggested that Restore Britain fighting the election could be 'good news' for Burnham as it threatened to split the right-wing vote.

According to The Guardian, if Burnham replaces Starmer as prime minister in the coming months, he may feel compelled to secure his own mandate. Harriet Harman suggested that a leadership change could potentially trigger a general election, citing concerns about political stability and public perception. She noted that Nigel Farage might accuse Burnham of being a 'usurper,' which could pressure Burnham to call for an early election.

Andy Burnham has called for tighter regulation on AI, Big Tech, and key industries if he returns to central government. In an article published by The Times, Burnham emphasized the need for strong public control over investment strategies and essential services like transport, energy, water, education, and housing. He argued that 40 years of neoliberalism and deregulation have damaged many communities across Britain.

Burnham declined to rule out hiking the top rate of income tax to 50p as he bids to oust Keir Starmer as Prime Minister. The Greater Manchester mayor is currently standing as Labour's candidate in the Makerfield by-election. If he wins the contest, Mr Burnham is widely expected to challenge Sir Keir for the Labour leadership with a view to replacing him in Downing Street.

Mr Burnham has branded the by-election as 'the most consequential of our lives' and, in a coded threat to the PM, said his campaign is offering a case for 'a change to Labour'. Speaking to Sky News on Tuesday, Mr Burnham said the Makerfield contest was 'a chance to create a circuit-breaker to say... we need something completely different'.

'This is a movement to change politics that we're building,' he added. 'I've changed politics in Greater Manchester, but we now need to take that movement to the national level.' Mr Burnham said a 'debate' was needed about the introduction of a land value tax, while he called for a 'fairer taxation system' when asked if he stood by his previous proposal for a 50p top rate of income tax.

The Greater Manchester mayor also insisted he is a 'team player' despite the threat he is posing to Sir Keir. In September last year, Mr Burnham proposed a rival economic plan to that of Sir Keir and Chancellor Rachel Reeves. This included a 50p top rate of income tax - which Britain last had between 2010 and 2013 following its introduction by Gordon Brown's government - and a tax cut for lower earners.

Andy Burnham today ruled out calling a snap general election if he seizes power from Keir Starmer. The Greater Manchester mayor's team said he would not go to the country if he wins the Makerfield by-election and goes on to become prime minister. Mr Burnham previously demanded the Conservatives call a general election when they changed leaders in 2022.

But he has decided to do what they did and carry on until the next scheduled election, due in 2029. It comes as a new poll showed Reform UK widening its national support to nine points just over a fortnight out from the Makerfield vote, which Mr Burnham needs to win to enact his plan to take power.

Nigel Farage's party is on 27 per cent in a poll by YouGov, with Labour and the Tories tied in second on 18 per cent. If replicated at a snap election it could hand Mr Farage a majority and mean Mr Burnham's premiership could last little longer than that of Liz Truss.

Asked if he stood by his proposals from last year, Mr Burnham said: 'Of course you've got to have a fair taxation system across the board. And my focus actually from the doorsteps here is the call that many people have made to me through this campaign around the threshold at the lower level where so many people are drawn into tax and they don't get the rewards from the work that they are doing.

So I'm open to a fairer taxation system, but I'm not making commitments beyond that. At this point in time, I'm listening to what people here are saying to me. I'm doing my best to represent what they're saying into the national debate, and I'll continue to do that if I'm successful from this election.'

Elsewhere in the interview, Mr Burnham said he 'grew up as a team player where you support the manager even if you disagree with his tactics'. Challenged about those comments - amid the widespread expectation he will attempt to topple Sir Keir if he wins in Makerfield - the Greater Manchester mayor insisted there was a 'deafening cry for change' from voters.

He said: 'There does come a moment when you get local election results like the ones we had here in nearby St Helens and all around the country. There is a deafening cry for change now coming from the British public. Are we going to listen to it or are we not?'

Burnham has signaled he would begin transforming England’s broken social care system this year if he became prime minister, accusing Westminster of “flinching away” from tackling difficult policy problems. He suggested bringing forward the Casey review, which is tasked with drawing up proposals for funding and other measures.

In an interview with The Guardian, Burnham also discussed various policies, including his stance on immigration, Brexit, and fiscal rules. He defended his comments that politicians should not be “in hock” to the bond markets but denied he was boxing himself in by sticking to Rachel Reeves’s fiscal rules.

Burnham emphasized the need for a broad church within Labour, suggesting leftwingers like Faiza Shaheen and Jamie Driscoll should never have been kicked out of the party. However, he drew a line at Jeremy Corbyn, stating it had “gone beyond” the time he could be welcomed back.

Burnham also addressed his relationship with Keir Starmer, describing it as respectful but honest. He declined to answer questions about a change in leadership, focusing instead on winning the by-election.