Andy Burnham has attributed many of Britain's current issues to the legacy of Margaret Thatcher, as he launched his by-election campaign with a 'vibes' video. Nearly 36 years after the former Conservative prime minister left Downing Street, the Greater Manchester mayor stated that the late Tory leader was responsible for 'a lot' of the problems confronting the country.
Policy Ambiguity and Criticism
The claim emerged as Mr Burnham faces scrutiny over his policy proposals. The former minister under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown has already performed a U-turn, insisting he is not advocating for rejoining the European Union or scrapping the government's fiscal rules—a stance that had previously unsettled markets. Critics have also accused him of diluting his commitment to proportional representation (PR). Instead, Mr Burnham has suggested he would prefer MPs to be elected via the supplementary vote method, deferring the issue by acknowledging it would need to be included in a manifesto first.
Proposed Policies
Other policies Mr Burnham has floated include raising the top rate of tax to 50p and praising Gordon Brown's 10p tax rate. He has also suggested shifting 'wealth' from the South to the North of England. The vagueness of his approach has become more apparent as the Makerfield by-election contest intensifies.
Labour Internal Strife
The Labour Party is embroiled in a civil war following disastrous local election results, with over 100 MPs demanding Sir Keir Starmer's resignation. However, no formal challenge has yet been mounted. Mr Burnham used a slick campaign video overnight to insist he is motivated by the need to 'change Labour'. The video, featuring music from Manchester bands such as Elbow, James, and Oasis, saw Mr Burnham declare his desire for 'a new path for Britain'.
'Some say this by-election is unnecessary. I say it's the most consequential of our lives,' he said. 'I don't take anything for granted and I'm ready to accept the consequences of whatever choice people make.' He added: 'Manchesterism is the end of neoliberalism, the end of trickle-down economics that has left out places like Makerfield. Make no mistake, that means a new path for Britain.'
Manchesterism and the Mutual Future
The mayor also reposted an attempt to explain his 'Manchesterism' platform by former Guardian journalist Shiv Malik, who termed it 'the Mutual Future'. The post described Mr Burnham's vision as 'self-sufficient regions rooting capital in their community to protect them against the tumult of globalisation'. It added: 'It's about ensuring the fundamentals of an economy—energy, transport, water and even housing—can stop being a drag on people's pay packets and the cost of business. That frees up people to innovate, spend, save for a better future, and take risks... What it isn't is status quo Neo-liberalism or Fabian style nationalisation. Which is why everyone is struggling to name it. It's the Mutual Future.'
Responding to criticism on X that Baroness Thatcher was in power four decades ago and he was part of a Labour government between 1997 and 2010, Mr Burnham said: 'You've clearly got no idea how much people here are struggling. And, yes, a lot of it can be traced back to Margaret Thatcher.'
By-Election Context
The by-election was triggered by former minister Josh Simons quitting to make way for Mr Burnham. If successful, there will have to be an election for Greater Manchester Mayor, costing millions of pounds. Reform UK is targeting Makerfield and has already said the 'expensive by-election is all about (Mr Burnham's) own personal ambition' rather than the best interests of the constituency.
Mr Burnham has sought to reassure voters in the Leave-supporting constituency that he is not seeking to rejoin the EU—something he said last year he would like to see happen in his lifetime. Sir Keir has insisted he will not set out a timetable for his departure even if the mayor returns to Parliament. If the Prime Minister does not resign, Mr Burnham would need the backing of 81 Labour MPs to mount a leadership challenge, potentially setting up a contest with Sir Keir for party members' votes.
Leadership Polling
One of Mr Burnham's supporters suggested last night that the mayor would not seek an immediate leadership fight. Leeds MP Alex Sobel told LBC it was not his 'expectation' that Mr Burnham would immediately trigger a contest, saying he would 'come back and potentially serve in the Government, try and help us turn this Government round'. Polling by YouGov suggested Mr Burnham would be Labour members' preferred candidate for leader, with 47 per cent saying he would be their first choice. Some 31 per cent ranked Sir Keir as their first choice, followed by former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner on 8 per cent. Just 4 per cent put Wes Streeting as their first choice, with 57 per cent saying he was wrong to resign as health secretary. In a contest between Mr Burnham and Sir Keir, 59 per cent said they would back the mayor while 37 per cent would support the current PM.
