Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, is making his third bid for the Labour leadership, as he runs in the Makerfield byelection in June. Winning a seat as an MP would open up his chance to challenge Keir Starmer for the party leadership.
Burnham's Political Persona
Josh Halliday, the Guardian's north of England editor, tells Nosheen Iqbal that Burnham has built a persona as a voice for the north of England, particularly during the Covid pandemic. He has been critical of the London-centric political system and has been called the 'king of the north'.
Key Claims
Halliday notes that Burnham has been telling people he is the only person who can save the country from Reform UK, a claim that stands out given Reform's strong polling. Burnham's political journey is explored, from his time as a Labour MP to his current role as mayor.
- Burnham has expressed that politics doesn't work for most of the country.
- He advocates for a less centralised political system.
- His stance during Covid boosted his popularity in the north.
For more on this, listen to the full podcast on the Guardian.
