Burnham (Yesterday): “100%” Understand Why People Want Starmer to Step Down
Andy Burnham’s first sit-down television interview since being confirmed as Labour’s Makerfield by-election candidate, given to ITV News’s Daniel Hewitt yesterday, continues to drive Thursday’s news cycle. Burnham said he “100%” understands why people want Sir Keir Starmer to step down: “They’re sending a message.” He confirmed that becoming an MP would be the “first step” on the path to a Labour leadership challenge. “I’ve indicated always in my role as mayor that one day I will seek to return to Westminster,” he said. The framing politely contradicts Lammy’s “back on the pitch” and Nandy’s “froth and nonsense” lines.
Reform UK’s “Plucky Plumber” Robert Kenyon, unveiled minutes after the Burnham Wednesday confirmation, will accuse Burnham at the start of the by-election campaign of treating Makerfield as a “stepping stone” and attack the Cambridge-educated former special-adviser background. The Greens are due to name their candidate this evening; the Conservatives within twenty-four hours. The Wigan-borough Reform sweep of 24/25 council seats two weeks ago is the empirical baseline; Burnham’s own 66% mayoral vote in Wigan in 2024 is the counter-baseline. The Restore Britain rightwing party’s candidate Rebecca Shepherd may split Reform’s vote; the Greens and Conservatives will split anti-Reform and anti-Labour votes respectively.