The mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, is making a third bid for the Labour leadership, this time by contesting the Makerfield byelection in June. Winning a seat as an MP would open the door for him to challenge Keir Starmer for the party's top job.
Burnham's Political Persona
According to the Guardian's north of England editor, Josh Halliday, Burnham has deliberately cultivated an image as a voice for those outside Westminster. 'He has expressed multiple times that politics does not work for most of the country,' Halliday tells Nosheen Iqbal. 'We live in far too much of a London-centric, over-centralised political system.'
Burnham has built up this persona, particularly during the Covid-19 pandemic, as a figure speaking for the world beyond the capital. This has led some to call him the 'king of the north'.
Claim to Save the Country from Reform UK
In recent weeks, Burnham has been telling people that he is the only person who can save the country from Reform UK. Halliday notes, 'That sounds like a big claim to make in a time when Reform is so far ahead in the polls.'
But what does Andy Burnham actually stand for? Halliday takes listeners through Burnham's political journey, from his early career to his current ambitions. The byelection and potential leadership challenge mark a significant moment for Labour, as Burnham seeks to position himself as a unifying figure against the rising threat of Reform UK.
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