United Kingdom

UK: Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham Announces Second Bid to Return to Parliament

Is this Labour's best hope for power or a liability the party cannot afford?

Published 1 hour ago

UK: Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham Announces Second Bid to Return to Parliament

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Above: Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham in London, England on Feb. 10. Image credit: Jaimi Joy/Bloomberg/Getty Images

The Spin

Left narrative

Andy Burnham is the only major politician in Britain with positive favorability ratings, and polling shows 34% of the public already see him as a better prime minister than Starmer. His "business-friendly socialism" has proven in Greater Manchester that public control of housing, energy and transport can actually work. Labour must allow him to return to the national fold and become the key man to bring the party back from the dead.

The New Statesman on X Guardian

Right narrative

Burnham's popularity is built on branding, not results. Rough sleeping rose 44% under his watch, Greater Manchester Police was placed under special measures after 80,000 crimes went unrecorded, and the Clean Air Zone fiasco burned over £100 million in taxpayer money for nothing. Now he wants to enter Parliament through a seat where Reform is projected to win. Burnham's high-stakes gamble is likely only to backfire.

The Telegraph

Clyde Shelton on X