UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham did not rule out a return to government, dismissing speculation linking him to a Labour leadership bid.
As reported by The Telegraph, Andy Burnham said he would consider returning to government if called, amid growing Labour leadership speculation.The Mayor of Greater Manchester again avoided ruling out a leadership contest, insisting reports linking him to any bid have “nothing to do with me.”
On Monday, 8 December, it was reported that Labour Together, a think tank linked to Number 10 chief of staff Morgan McSweeney, asked party members to name politicians they believed could lead the party to a second general election victory. Among those possible contenders were Mr Burnham, Health Secretary Wes Streeting, and former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner.
How did Andy Burnham respond to rumours of a leadership bid?
During an interview, when asked about the recent speculations, Andy Burnham replied,
“I’m not an MP, I can’t stand in any leadership race.”
He said,
“I’m here to make a success of this Labour Government, and if people think I could have a role in that in any capacity, and I mean in any capacity when I say that, then of course, if the call came, I’m not going to just turn away from it.”
Pressed on the Labour Together survey, Mr Burnham added,
“I’m not putting my name in those surveys. Westminster does what it does and I often get drawn in without being involved in it.”
“The passion I have for this job: I think people underestimate what a wrench it would be for me to leave this job. I love this job … I left [Westminster] for a reason and what we’ve built here is the new thing, that is what we need,”
the Greater Manchester Mayor continued.
Last month, he refused to dismiss the possibility of challenging Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, as concerns grow over government approval and rising unease among MPs. Labour’s party conference in Liverpool in September was overshadowed by rumours that Mr Burnham, who left the Commons in 2017, might be considering a return to Westminster.
He said,
“One of the frustrations, I find, is that when Westminster goes into meltdown, I’m always sort of dragged into it. I haven’t launched any leadership challenge. I’m doing my job to the best of my ability, and I’m trying to help the country and the government by putting forward the kind of plan that I’m putting forward today. Not constantly answering hypothetical questions.”
Mr Burnham refused to dismiss the possibility of entering a leadership contest, saying,
“I am not going to sit here this morning and kind of rule out what might or might not happen in the future, because why would I. I don’t know what the future will hold.”
The Mayor of Manchester added,
“What I do know is, I’m mayor of the most successful city region in the country, the fastest-growing, and it’s my job to put forward a plan rather than go back to my old world, where everyone is constantly speculating about everything, not putting forward solutions for the benefit of the country.”
The rumours came after Labour MP Clive Lewis indicated he could vacate his Norwich South seat to allow Mr Burnham to return to the Commons and contest the party leadership.
What did Keir Starmer say about Andy Burnham and leadership speculation?
Sir Keir Starmer rejected rumours that he could be replaced as Labour leader, saying Andy Burnham is
“doing a really good job”
amid reports of potential leadership challenges. Last month, while en route to the G20 summit in South Africa, the Prime Minister said Westminster aides spreading leadership speculation were wasting their time and should focus on the cost of living. He added,
“Andy’s doing a really good job as mayor in Manchester and we work very closely together. Only two days after Labour Party conference, we were in Manchester together in the aftermath of the terrible attack on the synagogue there.”
The Labour leader continued,
“My message would be very much that every minute that we are not talking about the cost of living, and straining every sinew to ensure that those that need our help in relation to the cost of living and feeling better off and having a better health service and feeling safer and more secure in their community, is a minute wasted.”
What did Labour Together ask party members in its leadership survey?
According to The Times, Labour Together sent a survey to local parties, asking members to name those they believed had the strongest chance of leading the party to victory over Sir Keir Starmer. The survey also reportedly asked participants to rank the politicians they would back in a potential leadership race.
Eight Labour politicians were named alongside Sir Keir Starmer, among them Wes Streeting, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Darren Jones. The list also included Angela Rayner, Labour Deputy Leader Lucy Powell, and Andy Burnham.
According to insiders, Labour Together’s survey covered various issues and was described as a ‘methodological experiment’ to compare with recent polling. The results are expected to be shared with the Labour leadership.
How do people rate Keir Starmer as Labour leader?
A September survey showed that 53% of Labour members want a new leader by the next general election, while only 31% support Keir Starmer continuing as party leader.
The Survation survey for LabourList found that 65% of Labour members believe Mr Starmer is steering the government in the wrong direction, while 60% feel he has governed poorly.
The poll also revealed that Starmer’s approval rating among the general public is just 13%, with 79% expressing dissatisfaction, resulting in a net approval of -66, a historic low.
