Andy Burnham, the likely next prime minister, is facing a backlash from Labour MPs over his focus on the north of England. Sir Keir Starmer's successor is reportedly planning to set up a 'Number 10 in the north' if he becomes prime minister, with plans for a devolution of power to be outlined on Monday.
Concerns Over Alienating Southern Voters
Some Labour MPs fear that Burnham's northern focus could alienate voters in rural, coastal and commuter belt seats where the party is already under pressure from Nigel Farage's Reform UK and Zack Polanski's Green Party. One MP told The Times: 'We’ve got to have a winning coalition that spreads across the country. It’s not just the red wall. It’s seats we’d never won before from the Tories. It’s metropolitan areas being snapped up by the Greens.'
Economic Reforms Spark Further Discontent
Southern MPs have also raised concerns over economic reforms previously backed by Burnham, such as replacing council tax with a land value tax. One said: 'Andy has to be able to prove that his northern focus won’t cloud his ability to govern for all corners of the UK.'
Burnham's Northern Roots
The so-called King of the North is a fierce critic of the UK's Westminster-centric politics. The newly-elected MP, who was mayor of Greater Manchester from 2017 until winning the Makerfield by-election last week, reportedly told staff he expected to be spending plenty of time in the city even if he took over as prime minister.
Historical Context: Boris Johnson's Lords Move
In 2020, then-prime minister Boris Johnson urged Parliamentary authorities to look at the idea of moving the House of Lords out of London while the Palace of Westminster is revamped. York was suggested as a possible location, but the idea was turned down by the body in charge of the decision.
Labour Source Responds
A Labour source said: 'Anonymous briefings against party staff who have no right of reply only help our opponents. Those briefing should spend more time doing what party staff do round the clock: fight for Labour victories across the country.'
