Andy Burnham has accused Westminster insiders of lying and said they do not have a “licence to lie” after a dispute over his blocked byelection candidacy. The Greater Manchester mayor said people in government think they can say what they like to denigrate politicians.
Burnham denied claims that he was warned by No 10 that the Labour Party’s national executive committee would refuse his application to stand in the Gorton and Denton byelection. A No 10 spokesperson denied that anyone close to the prime minister had told Burnham the NEC would refuse his application.
Burnham also referenced the “stop Wes” briefings, an intervention by unnamed Downing Street sources which warned the health secretary, Wes Streeting, and others not to mount a challenge to the prime minister. He argued that anyone paid by the public purse does not have a licence to lie.
The mayor praised Sir Keir Starmer for backing the Hillsborough law, which will require a duty of candour on public servants. However, he indicated that the prime minister had not spoken to him before his decision to apply, although the two had a conversation on Monday.
Burnham said he had asked to speak to the prime minister to assure him he was not coming in to undermine him or the government. He added that he wanted to contribute because some issues holding Greater Manchester back are problems at the national level.
