Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has called on the Labour government to undergo a 'reset' to become more decisive and inclusive, warning that indecision is hampering progress. Speaking to the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg, the former cabinet minister expressed concern over the balance of the cabinet following the recent reshuffle, urging a more 'pluralistic' approach that listens to MPs and moves away from London-centricity.
Burnham, widely seen as a potential future leader, emphasised the need for the party to unite in the face of significant national challenges. He suggested that the upcoming deputy leadership contest should be used to address these issues, advocating for a party management style that is less factional and more inclusive of different voices, particularly from the north of England. He criticised the slow progress on the Hillsborough law as an example of the government's indecisiveness.
The reshuffle, triggered by Angela Rayner's resignation as deputy prime minister over a stamp duty underpayment, has been interpreted as a shift to the right within the party. Key appointments include Shabana Mahmood as home secretary and Pat McFadden as work and pensions secretary, with David Lammy becoming justice secretary and deputy prime minister. These moves have raised concerns among the Labour left and unions that the government may water down workers' rights legislation.
Former employment minister Justin Madders, who lost his role in the reshuffle, warned against rowing back on manifesto commitments, calling it 'really, really foolish'. However, Defence Secretary John Healey insisted the government would deliver the 'biggest upgrade in workers' rights for a generation' as promised, expressing confidence that the legislation would remain unchanged.
