Andy Burnham has what it takes to ‘turn around the country’ with his ‘politics of place’, MP says
'We need a prime minister who does actual Labour things'
A Labour MP campaigning for Andy Burnham ahead of tomorrow’s Makerfield by-election has said she believes he has what it takes to “turn around the country“.
The MP, who asked to remain anonymous, said Labour “needs a story” and that they think Burnham’s “politics of place” and track record of tackling local issues as the mayor of Greater Manchester means he has a good vision for the country.
“The politics of place are the only way you will be able to turn around our country and places like this [Makerfield] and places like mine,” they said.
The MP added: “The North isn’t the only place that is poor will be an important message for me to convey to Andy.”
“But also it’s about the opportunity and potential that these places offer rather than us always asking for a handout,” she said.
The MP would not say how quickly she thinks Burnham should make his move against Starmer, stating: “There needs to be an actual policy debate first.”
However, she said she supports him becoming leader and that “we need a prime minister who does actual Labour things”.
The MP also said that part of Labour’s story must be taking on tech bros and Russian interference in UK politics.
Speaking after the government’s social media ban for under-16s, she said ministers needed to focus on the “health and wellbeing of all of us”, warning that “tech bros” were “trying to f*** with our brains” and undermine how people make decisions.
She also criticised the government’s decision to announce the ban via X, saying it lacked consistency.
The MP said “we really need to step up” when it comes to tackling Russian interference in UK politics.
Referring to the attack on a British yacht by a Russian warship in the English Channel, she said: “We can have a Russian boat taking a pot shot at a British yacht, which scares the living bejesus out of people, but we’re already having the Russians undermining our democracy every single day through cyber attacks”.
Olivia Barber is a reporter at Left Foot Forward
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