It’s been another bizarre week in Westminster, with Sir Keir Starmer going about business as if everything is completely normal while a shadow leadership race to replace him ramps up in the background. But the absurdity of left-wing turmoil hit its peak yesterday when Andy Burnham officially launched his campaign to win the Makerfield by-election and take over as PM.
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In the car park of a sports and social club in Ashton-in-Makerfield, the Greater Manchester mayor was flanked by a cadre of MPs from Labour’s more left-leaning flank, including the Corbynista Rebecca Long-Bailey, Barry Gardiner and Charlotte Nichols. Liverpool City Region mayor Steve Rotheram was there. And so, too, was Jonathan Reynolds, the chief whip and man in charge of upholding loyalty to the Prime Minister.
That’s right – the guy responsible for ensuring MPs stay in line was waving a placard backing the man who wants to bludgeon the boss he’s been hired to protect as soon as possible.
The spectacle perfectly reflected much of the madness taking place behind the scenes in Labour land. This includes Ed Miliband lending his communications special adviser to the Burnham campaign to assist in toppling the Prime Minister he is supposed to serve. And Labour HQ effectively being bypassed wherever possible to remove Starmer loyalists from planning and decision-making.
On the ground in Makerfield, Burnham was clearly not remotely shying away from the reality of a bloody coup being in motion. He repeatedly declared that he was standing on a platform of ‘change’ because ‘British politics is tired’ and ‘needs a new script’. Ramming home that this is also an election to pick the Prime Minister, Burnham cried that a vote for him is a vote to ‘change Labour’.
The Evertonian delved a little deeper into what the public can expect from his potential premiership. Famously referred to as a political chameleon, the mayor gave a glimpse of his colour for now. He pledged to stick with Labour’s manifesto promise of no hikes in national insurance, VAT or income tax. But he said there was ‘space to be more radical’ on the issue of a land value tax. He hinted at reforming ‘regressive’ council taxes and doubled down on his former idea of abolishing inheritance tax in favour of a ‘social care levy’. Burnham also said he would look at the idea of equalising the way capital gains is taxed with income – a policy being pushed by his leadership rival Wes Streeting.
Despite many of his leftie backers in the parliamentary Labour party shunning Shabana Mahmood’s migration reforms and proposal to double the qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain, the leadership hopeful claimed to be pleased that net migration is falling. He even (gasp) said the numbers need to drop further. But he caveated that by saying changes to ILR would require further consultation and ‘care’.
And finally, on the long-awaited release of trans guidance, Burnham said he supports the policy of toilets being used according to biology rather than self-ID. The position marked a U-turn on his previous insistence that trans women should be allowed to use female loos.
Over the sun-soaked long weekend, political nerds would be encouraged to look out for which – if any – cabinet ministers and ministers make an appearance on the campaign trail in Makerfield. A decision to canvass will be a clear two fingers up to Sir Keir from any high-level member of the government.
A lot can happen in three days. See you on the other side.
This piece first appeared in Evening Blend. Subscribe for free here.
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