Andy Burnham has drawn battle lines for the future of the Labour party, promising to 'change Labour' and win back lost voters as he prepares to stand in the Makerfield byelection. The Greater Manchester mayor said a vote for him would be a vote to change the party, which he argued 'needs to change if we are to regain people's trust'.
Burnham's campaign will focus on national issues where Labour is failing, directly challenging Prime Minister Keir Starmer. He pledged to make the basics of life more affordable, including rents, bills and fares, and said he would have a 'relentless domestic focus'. His allies confirmed he would rule out any imminent return to the EU and recommit to fiscal rules on borrowing and debt.
Keir Starmer, however, said he had no intention of stepping aside and wanted to fight the next election. Speaking at Labour HQ, he urged staff to get '100% behind' the party in Makerfield, where Labour faces a bitter fight with Reform UK. Nigel Farage's party is expected to announce its candidate soon and has already released attack ads.
Burnham acknowledged the 'circus' that would descend on Makerfield but said it was a good thing that the constituency, 'long forgotten by national politics', was now at the centre of the national debate. He also apologised for the inconvenience the campaign would cause residents.
