Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has expressed her support for Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham returning to Westminster, just days before the Makerfield by-election. However, she cautioned that Labour must avoid becoming sidetracked by leadership speculation.
Appearing on BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg on 14 June, Nandy was primarily questioned about government plans to tighten children's access to social media, but was also drawn into questions about Burnham and Labour leadership speculation.
When asked whether she would prefer Burnham or Sir Keir Starmer to lead Labour into the next general election, Nandy responded: "It's well documented I am good friends with Andy Burnham and the things that he is saying in Makerfield, next door to my town in Wigan, is very similar to what I've been saying over the last seventeen years in elected politics, that people need to be heard louder and clearer. But I don't think the public is in the mood for a lot of Labour introspection."
She added: "I want us to win that by-election. It's not a given. People will go to the polls on Thursday and make their decision, and then we need to pull together as a team and get on with the very serious issues that we have just been talking about."
Later on Sky News, Nandy explicitly backed Burnham's arguments on welfare spending and defence, stating: "Yes, I do, because I think we've got a situation now where far too many people who want to be in work, who are desperate to work, aren't, and that particularly includes young people."
She continued: "As Alan Milburn, who did our independent review of what's happening to young people in the labour market, found we're only spending one pound in every 25 through the welfare budget in helping young people to actually find work. I mean, that is a disgraceful situation that we inherited, and we've got to change that. That's the way to bring the welfare bill down."
Nandy also said on Sky News about Burnham: "I hope he comes back to Westminster to help us bring the issues that matter to people right up front and centre as part of this Government."
Additionally, she criticised Reform UK leader Nigel Farage over his comments describing Britain as a "two-tier state", saying he "should take his nasty hate and anger and division somewhere else frankly". "I think people want hope," she added.
Her comments come as Labour continues its final push ahead of polling day on Thursday in Makerfield.
