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Labour’s Andy Burnham has been carefully measured in expressing his political ambitions, but his recent comments on the BBC’s Question Time indicate a subtle advance beyond previous statements. He remarked, “I think Wes Streeting seems to have launched a leadership contest, so if that is running, I would seek to join it. But I’d have to persuade members of the Parliamentary Labour Party to do the same.” This phrasing reflects Burnham’s clear intent to avoid appearing presumptuous at any stage, particularly given his current focus on securing the Makerfield seat in the upcoming by-election.
While Wes Streeting, the former health secretary, has yet to formally announce a leadership bid, Burnham’s position is that he would join any contest already underway rather than initiating one himself. This is a nuanced but important distinction, one that Burnham’s supporters highlight to reinforce the perception that he is measured and not rushing ahead of events. Yet, the choice of location for the Question Time broadcast—Ashton-in-Makerfield—was no coincidence and points to Burnham’s underlying ambition. The discussion stirred a swift response from Downing Street, with a spokesman reiterating that the Labour leadership challenge mechanism remains inactive and that the prime minister, who took office just two years ago, will maintain his mandate.
The prime minister’s allies continue to back Sir Keir Starmer, acknowledging the difficult political circumstances he faces if Burnham achieves victory in Makerfield later this month. Meanwhile, Burnham remained somewhat evasive when pressed about his prime ministerial aspirations during a BBC Newsnight interview. However, he laid out specific policy ideas, including a 20% business rate cut for pubs, typically saving them around £5,000 annually, and a commitment to accelerate the social care inquiry led by Dame Louise Casey, due to report in 2028 but proposed now for delivery this year.
Other notable moments from the question-and-answer session included Burnham addressing the sensitive topic of carrying knives for religious reasons, referencing the recent killing of Henry Nowak by someone wielding a kirpan, a Sikh ceremonial dagger. He also commented on policing, citing Greater Manchester’s Chief Constable Sir Stephen Watson’s refusal to take the knee as a stance to ensure equal treatment under the law, challenging the idea of “two-tier policing” in the UK. Reform UK candidate Robert Kenyon emphasized that “violence is never the answer,” notably distinguishing his approach from that of Nigel Farage, who declined to condemn recent violent incidents during a session in the House of Commons.
As the Makerfield by-election nears with just under two weeks to go before polling day, postal votes have already started arriving. Labour appears cautiously confident about its prospects, while Reform UK maintains a competitive position. Additionally, Restore Britain, a party established by former Reform MP Rupert Lowe and positioned to the right of Reform, seems capable of drawing support away from them. Polling in such a localized contest is challenging, but a recent Survation poll puts Labour at 49%, Reform at 39%, and Restore at 8%. When Reform and Restore support is combined, the race tightens considerably, leading Reform locally to frame the contest as a two-horse race and suggest that votes for Restore could inadvertently boost Labour’s chances. Both leading parties acknowledge that with many voters still undecided, the outcome remains uncertain as the campaign enters its final stretch
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