Andy Burnham has been slapped down for taking “pot shots” at Sir Keir Starmer amid rumours the Manchester Mayor is planning to challenge the Prime Minister for the Labour leadership. Mr Burnham says party colleagues are urging him to run and has warned: “The challenge we’ve got in front of us cannot be met by a very factional and divisive running of this party.”
Housing and Communities Secretary Steve Reed said Mr Burnham was “entitled to his view”, but called on him to stop taking “pot shots” at the Prime Minister. Mr Reed added: “We heard these kind of comments before. When Labour was in opposition, there used to be people who used to take pot shots at Keir Starmer. He then picked this party up off the floor and led us to a record-breaking election victory.
“We are now in power, and what I’m doing this morning is talking to you about our plan for change and the difference we’re going to make to communities up and down this country, and that’s what we need to focus on.”
“Andy’s doing a great job as Mayor of Manchester, I’ve long admired the work he’s doing there. We’ve other mayors that are doing great work, and we all will pull together to deliver the change this country wants to see.”
Mr Reed added that he was “very proud” of the Prime Minister and went on to list some achievements, including rising wages and a cut to NHS waiting lists.
The Housing Secretary sniped that other mayors, including Sadiq Khan and Tracey Brabin, are doing just as good a job as Mr Burnham.
Mr Burnham has given another interview in which he admitted that Labour MPs are privately urging him to challenge Sir Keir for the party’s leadership.
He also set out what would be his manifesto, including higher council tax on expensive southern homes, £40billion of extra borrowing to build council housing, tax cuts for the lowest paid and raising the top rate of income tax to 50p.
The Mayor also criticised Sir Keir for creating a “climate of fear” among Labour MPs, which has led to “alienation and demoralisation” within Labour.
Mr Burnham admitted: “People have contacted me throughout the summer – yeah.
“I’m not going to say to you that that hasn’t happened, but as I say, it’s more a decision for those people than it is for me.”
A backbencher told The Telegraph Mr Burnham “would have a caucus of support” if he decided to run.
Another said: “If Andy’s going to go, he’s got to come out. He’s got to stop playing footsie with the Labour Party and say that the current man’s not up to it.”
