BBC Breakfast has warned that Andy Burnham faces a major 'legitimacy problem' if he becomes prime minister following Keir Starmer's resignation. Starmer announced outside Downing Street on June 22 that he will step down as Labour Party leader, potentially paving the way for Burnham to succeed him without a leadership contest.
BBC Star Warns of Legitimacy Issue
Journalist Joshi Herrmann, editor of regional newspaper The Manchester Mill, appeared on BBC Breakfast before the news broke to highlight obstacles for Burnham. He said: 'The problem with the coronation is there’s not just a legitimacy problem, i.e. who has actually voted for you? If you’re saying you’re going to radically change the country in ways that weren’t in the manifesto, where is your mandate to do that?'
Untested Leadership Concerns
Herrmann also pointed to Burnham's lack of scrutiny as Greater Manchester mayor. 'There’s also the Andy Burnham not being tested problem. I’ve been following him for six years now, editing the Mill, and frankly he hasn’t been tested by anything like the scrutiny that you get in Westminster.' He noted that Greater Manchester has been a Labour stronghold during Burnham's tenure, with less partisan media coverage than in Westminster.
Leadership Election Would Test Burnham
Herrmann argued that a leadership election would force Burnham to clarify his policies. 'So a leadership election, had we had one or if we get one, would test Andy Burnham a bit. It would probably push him to delineate exactly what it is he wants to do, how he’s going to pay for it, how he deals with criticism, etcetera.' Without such a contest, he warned: 'The first time he has to do all those things is going to be as prime minister. That’s a very, very unusual situation in British politics.'
