Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.
Andy Burnham has yet to definitively dismiss the possibility of launching a Labour leadership campaign, following comments from Norwich South MP Clive Lewis, who expressed willingness to relinquish his seat to enable Burnham’s return to Parliament. Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, has been the subject of ongoing speculation regarding a challenge to Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership, particularly since Labour’s autumn conference. However, Labour Party rules require candidates for the leadership to be sitting MPs, which complicates his potential candidacy.
Clive Lewis made his offer public on Wednesday, stating he would consider stepping down so Burnham could contest a by-election and regain a parliamentary seat. Burnham, when asked about Lewis’s proposal during multiple interviews on BBC Breakfast, BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, and BBC Radio Manchester, refrained from committing to any leadership intentions, emphasizing his current focus on his mayoral responsibilities. On BBC Breakfast, when pressed by presenter Naga Munchetty about serving out his full mayoral term to 2028, Burnham replied, “I don’t know what the world holds but I’m focused on my job here in Greater Manchester.”
Despite repeated attempts to secure a clear answer, Burnham avoided ruling out future leadership ambitions outright. He said, “I haven’t launched any leadership challenge,” but also added, “I’m not going to sit here this morning and rule out what might or might not happen in future – I don’t know what the future will hold.” He went on to criticize journalists for engaging in speculation, noting that he is “constantly answering hypothetical questions” and expressing frustration with MPs in Westminster who focus more on speculation than on proposing solutions.
Labour’s rules mandate that a leadership candidate must be an MP and secure nominations from at least 80 fellow MPs. While two Manchester MPs, Andrew Gwynne and Graham Stringer, have already stated they would not give up their seats for Burnham, Clive Lewis appeared open to the idea, though he later clarified to The Sun that he had no immediate plans to stand down, calling his earlier comments hypothetical. Lewis, who has been the Norwich South MP since 2015 and recently increased his majority, described Sir Keir Starmer’s position as prime minister as “untenable” and suggested Burnham deserves the chance to “step up.” Burnham himself, when questioned, expressed gratitude for the support but maintained his focus remains on his current role as mayor
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.