Labour is not complacent despite enjoying a Burnham bounce in the polls, the party's chair has said. Bridget Phillipson praised Andy Burnham's “real sense of connection” with the public, which has seen polls show Labour would be the largest party if a snap election were called.
Party chair warns of 'massive fight' ahead
Speaking on Saturday as Labour party conference in Liverpool begins, Ms Phillipson said the party recognised it had “a massive fight on our hands with Reform, with the Tories”.
She said: “What we have seen with Andy Burnham is a real sense of connection with the public, taking things to the next level. That hope, that optimism, that sense that Britain's best days lie ahead of us.
“We've got a big fight on our hands come the next election, and I don't underestimate that challenge for one second, but there's a real sense of purpose and energy as conference gets under way.”
Criticism of Conservatives and Reform UK
She also hit out at the Conservative and Reform UK, questioning their efforts on tackling violence against women and girls.
The Cabinet minister said: “Today so many of the attitudes which we thought we had banished, thought were off limits for mainstream politicians, are back.
“Misogyny and racism being normalised on our streets and on our screens – a politics of division and fear, of hatred and contempt.”
Snap election ruled out
It comes less than 24 hours after the new PM ruled out an early general election, saying he wanted to “knock dead” rumours of a contest before 2029.
Elsewhere, Education Secretary Lucy Powell vowed the party would bring back progressive voters who had turned to the Greens, SNP or Plaid Cymru.
She told The Guardian: “I've always thought there was a clear majority in this country who didn't want the kind of politics of Reform and that divisive blaming of others – they didn't like it.
“The challenge has been that sentiment has not all come to Labour and the progressive coalition was very, very fragmented. And part of our task and challenge is to reunite that progressive alliance and that voter coalition.
“I think we can. We've got red shoots of hope coming through. There are a lot more choices for people… but the task is to rise above that and to be the leaders of the progressive change.”
