Burnham says he wants to ensure Makerfield byelection ‘changes British politics’, in eve-of-poll speech – as it happened
In his speech Andy Burnham also said the Makerfield byelection would change British politics.
He started by apologising to the voters for the inconvenience the byelection had caused, and all the leaflets and the knocks on the door they were getting.
He went on:
double quotation markIt’s been a long month, and we’ve lived through it together, haven’t we?
But it’s all for a purpose. The inconvenience is for a real purpose. And that is to make sure that this byelection changes British politics.
And I believe that is what it’s about to do.
This byelection is going to put power where it should be in the hands of people here, in the hands of you, in the hands of 75,000 people across this constituency, a place that has been overlooked by Westminster in the past.
It’s right that this place decides what happens, the change that comes to British politics, because change is coming.
But the question tonight is what kind of change?
And I want to finish this byelection campaign [being] really clear with everybody about what kind of change I’m talking about, what kind of change I’m offering.
A vote for me is a vote to end 40 years of trickle-down economics that didn’t trickle down much at all to people here. It is a vote to bring down water bills, energy bills, to make life more affordable to people again, to give the British people a bit more money in their pockets, to give people a bit more breathing space in their daily lives. That is what a vote for me is all about.
It’s a vote to power up the north of England – about time that that happens – as well as to re industrialise the north.
And to give all young people growing up here good paths into secure jobs. That’s what this is all about.
double quotation markIt’s been a long month, and we’ve lived through it together, haven’t we?
But it’s all for a purpose. The inconvenience is for a real purpose. And that is to make sure that this byelection changes British politics.
And I believe that is what it’s about to do.
This byelection is going to put power where it should be in the hands of people here, in the hands of you, in the hands of 75,000 people across this constituency, a place that has been overlooked by Westminster in the past.
It’s right that this place decides what happens, the change that comes to British politics, because change is coming.
But the question tonight is what kind of change?
And I want to finish this byelection campaign [being] really clear with everybody about what kind of change I’m talking about, what kind of change I’m offering.
A vote for me is a vote to end 40 years of trickle-down economics that didn’t trickle down much at all to people here. It is a vote to bring down water bills, energy bills, to make life more affordable to people again, to give the British people a bit more money in their pockets, to give people a bit more breathing space in their daily lives. That is what a vote for me is all about.
It’s a vote to power up the north of England – about time that that happens – as well as to re industrialise the north.
And to give all young people growing up here good paths into secure jobs. That’s what this is all about.
Andy Burnham has said that he wants to ensure that the Makerfield byelection “changes British politics”, in an eve-of-poll speech to supporters. (See 5.30pm.)
Andy Burnham has said that he wants to ensure that the Makerfield byelection “changes British politics”, in an eve-of-poll speech to supporters. (See 5.30pm.)
For a full list of all the stories covered on the blog today, do scroll through the list of key event headlines near the top of the blog.
There is a lot more about the Makerfield byelection in this Q&A that Hannah Al-Othman, who has been covering the campaign, did earlier.
This is what she said in response to a question on whether the result would be close.
double quotation markElection experts I’ve spoken to have said that Labour should win it, and the mood in the Labour camp in these last few days has definitely seemed optimistic, while the Reform side from what I’m hearing is more downbeat. However, nobody I’ve spoken to is anticipating an easy win, and it may be very close.
I actually think we didn’t see much tactical voting in Gorton and Denton – I live there and from speaking to people locally, I don’t think either Labour or the Greens had successfully convinced people on any large scale that they were the tactical vote to beat Reform. I think the Greens won here simply because they were more popular. However, you’re absolutely right that it was a factor in Caerphilly.
I think we’re definitely seeing evidence in Makerfield of Green and Lib Dem voters lending their voters to Burnham, so I think it will play a big role in this election too. (And what the evidence suggests is that Restore voters are not as likely to do the same for Reform, which will also help Labour.) I think those tactical voters have already been factored into a lot of the Makerfield predictions though, which suggest that Burnham will win, but with Reform not too far behind.
double quotation markElection experts I’ve spoken to have said that Labour should win it, and the mood in the Labour camp in these last few days has definitely seemed optimistic, while the Reform side from what I’m hearing is more downbeat. However, nobody I’ve spoken to is anticipating an easy win, and it may be very close.
I actually think we didn’t see much tactical voting in Gorton and Denton – I live there and from speaking to people locally, I don’t think either Labour or the Greens had successfully convinced people on any large scale that they were the tactical vote to beat Reform. I think the Greens won here simply because they were more popular. However, you’re absolutely right that it was a factor in Caerphilly.
I think we’re definitely seeing evidence in Makerfield of Green and Lib Dem voters lending their voters to Burnham, so I think it will play a big role in this election too. (And what the evidence suggests is that Restore voters are not as likely to do the same for Reform, which will also help Labour.) I think those tactical voters have already been factored into a lot of the Makerfield predictions though, which suggest that Burnham will win, but with Reform not too far behind.
Lewis Goodall from the News Agents podcast has an interesting post on the Makerfield byelection on his Substack blog. While the Westminster consensus has it that Andy Burnham is on course for a comfortable victory, Goodall isn’t quite so sure. Here is his conclusion.
double quotation markReform have run a poor campaign and Labour a decent one. That, combined with Burnham’s unique candidacy may well be enough to get Labour over the line. But don’t be surprised if we wake up to a Reform win on Thursday. Labour fear that Reform are motivating non-voters, boosting turnout- voters about whom little is known and who may easily throw off both their targeting efforts and the pollsters’. As one Labour source put it to me after the locals: “for the first time Farage wasn’t just the beneficiary of people being pissed off with us, they were actively excited to go out and vote for him.” Whatever happens, the result will probably the pivotal moment of the parliament, with serious reorienting consequences for the left and right of British politics.
One other thing to bear in mind- if Burnham does triumph, Labour will never be able to run another campaign like it again. If he becomes Prime Minister, Labour’s brand will become his brand. The outsider campaign will have worked. But it will also be over.
double quotation markReform have run a poor campaign and Labour a decent one. That, combined with Burnham’s unique candidacy may well be enough to get Labour over the line. But don’t be surprised if we wake up to a Reform win on Thursday. Labour fear that Reform are motivating non-voters, boosting turnout- voters about whom little is known and who may easily throw off both their targeting efforts and the pollsters’. As one Labour source put it to me after the locals: “for the first time Farage wasn’t just the beneficiary of people being pissed off with us, they were actively excited to go out and vote for him.” Whatever happens, the result will probably the pivotal moment of the parliament, with serious reorienting consequences for the left and right of British politics.
One other thing to bear in mind- if Burnham does triumph, Labour will never be able to run another campaign like it again. If he becomes Prime Minister, Labour’s brand will become his brand. The outsider campaign will have worked. But it will also be over.
The Liberal Democrats have suffered a cyber attack by “a hostile state”, its chief executive has said. The Press Association said Lord Dixon made the revelation as he spoke in the House of Lords. Dixon said:
double quotation markEarlier this week, the Liberal Democrats’ systems were – I’m reliably informed – attacked by a hostile state in a sophisticated attack on our systems.
Fortunately, our protections that were in place were robust against this attack and we had the full co-operation of the security services in helping us withstand that attack.
But given the way that that foreign state is particularly targeting political parties, does [the minister] think that the support given to all political parties across the spectrum is proportionate to the level of threat that we now face?
double quotation markEarlier this week, the Liberal Democrats’ systems were – I’m reliably informed – attacked by a hostile state in a sophisticated attack on our systems.
Fortunately, our protections that were in place were robust against this attack and we had the full co-operation of the security services in helping us withstand that attack.
But given the way that that foreign state is particularly targeting political parties, does [the minister] think that the support given to all political parties across the spectrum is proportionate to the level of threat that we now face?
Ruth Anderson, a Cabinet Office, replied to Dixon. She said she did not know about this, but said the revelation showed how “every democratic institution is under threat every day from those people who wish to sow division and who wish to undermine our core values and indeed our United Kingdom.”
In his speech Andy Burnham also said the Makerfield byelection would change British politics.
He started by apologising to the voters for the inconvenience the byelection had caused, and all the leaflets and the knocks on the door they were getting.
He went on:
double quotation markIt’s been a long month, and we’ve lived through it together, haven’t we?
But it’s all for a purpose. The inconvenience is for a real purpose. And that is to make sure that this byelection changes British politics.
And I believe that is what it’s about to do.
This byelection is going to put power where it should be in the hands of people here, in the hands of you, in the hands of 75,000 people across this constituency, a place that has been overlooked by Westminster in the past.
It’s right that this place decides what happens, the change that comes to British politics, because change is coming.
But the question tonight is what kind of change?
And I want to finish this byelection campaign [being] really clear with everybody about what kind of change I’m talking about, what kind of change I’m offering.
A vote for me is a vote to end 40 years of trickle-down economics that didn’t trickle down much at all to people here. It is a vote to bring down water bills, energy bills, to make life more affordable to people again, to give the British people a bit more money in their pockets, to give people a bit more breathing space in their daily lives. That is what a vote for me is all about.
It’s a vote to power up the north of England – about time that that happens – as well as to re industrialise the north.
And to give all young people growing up here good paths into secure jobs. That’s what this is all about.
double quotation markIt’s been a long month, and we’ve lived through it together, haven’t we?
But it’s all for a purpose. The inconvenience is for a real purpose. And that is to make sure that this byelection changes British politics.
And I believe that is what it’s about to do.
This byelection is going to put power where it should be in the hands of people here, in the hands of you, in the hands of 75,000 people across this constituency, a place that has been overlooked by Westminster in the past.
It’s right that this place decides what happens, the change that comes to British politics, because change is coming.
But the question tonight is what kind of change?
And I want to finish this byelection campaign [being] really clear with everybody about what kind of change I’m talking about, what kind of change I’m offering.
A vote for me is a vote to end 40 years of trickle-down economics that didn’t trickle down much at all to people here. It is a vote to bring down water bills, energy bills, to make life more affordable to people again, to give the British people a bit more money in their pockets, to give people a bit more breathing space in their daily lives. That is what a vote for me is all about.
It’s a vote to power up the north of England – about time that that happens – as well as to re industrialise the north.
And to give all young people growing up here good paths into secure jobs. That’s what this is all about.
Andy Burnham said a vote for him in the Makerfield byelection was “a vote to end 40 years of trickle-down economics that didn’t trickle down much at all to people here”.
He went on:
double quotation markIt is a vote to bring down water bills, energy bills, to make life more affordable to people again, to give the British people a bit more money in their pockets, to give people a bit more breathing space in their daily lives. That is what a vote for me is all about.
It’s a vote to power up the north of England. About time that that happens.
double quotation markIt is a vote to bring down water bills, energy bills, to make life more affordable to people again, to give the British people a bit more money in their pockets, to give people a bit more breathing space in their daily lives. That is what a vote for me is all about.
It’s a vote to power up the north of England. About time that that happens.
Andy Burnham is live streaming a speech to supporters in Makerfield.
I will post the highlights shortly.
Starmer warns against ‘looking backwards’ to Brexit after rivals back UK’s return to EU
The Labour MP Andy McDonald, who is on the left of the party, has welcomed the Cabinet Office’s announcement today about ending some government outsourcing. (See 11.24am.) McDonald said:
double quotation markThe government promised a wave of insourcing - and delivering that for government facilities management is the right thing for taxpayers and for staff. Removing the requirement to pay profits for core public service provision is the right thing to do and should ensure better pay and conditions, and trade union recognition.
I thank Rachel Reeves for the role she has played in this and pay tribute to both the TUC and to the PCS union whose members have led a long and very loud campaign for their members to secure insourced contracts. Today’s announcement is a testament to them and their work.
It should be the first step in a broader wave of insourcing across public services.
The government should set out an intent to see this approach expand into other sectors of the economy, including in education, health, local government, and in transport as it establishes Great British Railways.
double quotation markThe government promised a wave of insourcing - and delivering that for government facilities management is the right thing for taxpayers and for staff. Removing the requirement to pay profits for core public service provision is the right thing to do and should ensure better pay and conditions, and trade union recognition.
I thank Rachel Reeves for the role she has played in this and pay tribute to both the TUC and to the PCS union whose members have led a long and very loud campaign for their members to secure insourced contracts. Today’s announcement is a testament to them and their work.
It should be the first step in a broader wave of insourcing across public services.
The government should set out an intent to see this approach expand into other sectors of the economy, including in education, health, local government, and in transport as it establishes Great British Railways.
MPs and peers gather in Speaker’s House at parliament today for a “Great Get Together” in honour of Jo Cox, the Labour MP murdered 10 years ago yesterday by a far-right extremist.
The speakers included Kim Leadbeater, Cox’s sister, who now represents the seat where Cox was MP, Neil Kinnock, the former Labour leader, his son Stephen, a health minister, Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, Sarah Brown, wife of the former PM, and Lindsay Hoyle, the Commons speaker. Guests wore white roses in recognistion of Cox’s strong Yorkshire links.
Neil Kinnock said Cox “had a gift and a power in death as well as in life for uniting people.”
Hoyle said Cox could have been a future prime minister, and that “democracy lost a superstar in the making.” And as MP for Chorley in Lancashire, he joked: “I would never wear a Yorkshire rose for anybody else.”
Britain’s driving test backlog will remain until autumn 2027, the transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, has said. As the Press Association reports, Alexander said this in her evidence to the transport committee this morning. PA says:
double quotation markThe cabinet minister told MPs “I totally understand people’s frustrations” as she insisted “we have done a lot” to tackle the issue “but demand is still very high”.
Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) figures show the average waiting time to book a test last month was nearly 22 weeks, compared with about five weeks in February 2020 before the coronavirus pandemic.
The agency initially had a target of reducing the average waiting time to seven weeks by the end of 2025.
Alexander pushed this back to summer 2026, but admitted last November even that would not be possible.
Giving evidence to the transport select committee she said: “Realistically, this is going to take a long time to sort this problem out, and I think by the autumn of next year we should be back down to the seven-week aspiration that we’ve got.”
The minister went on: “My aspiration is to get us back down to a point where, when someone is booking a test, they’re not having to wait months on end to get one, which is the situation for some people in some locations at the moment.”
double quotation markThe cabinet minister told MPs “I totally understand people’s frustrations” as she insisted “we have done a lot” to tackle the issue “but demand is still very high”.
Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) figures show the average waiting time to book a test last month was nearly 22 weeks, compared with about five weeks in February 2020 before the coronavirus pandemic.
The agency initially had a target of reducing the average waiting time to seven weeks by the end of 2025.
Alexander pushed this back to summer 2026, but admitted last November even that would not be possible.
Giving evidence to the transport select committee she said: “Realistically, this is going to take a long time to sort this problem out, and I think by the autumn of next year we should be back down to the seven-week aspiration that we’ve got.”
The minister went on: “My aspiration is to get us back down to a point where, when someone is booking a test, they’re not having to wait months on end to get one, which is the situation for some people in some locations at the moment.”
Alex Wickham from Bloomberg has posted on social media a summary of Bloomberg’s take on the thinking in the Labour party about what will happen if Andy Burnham wins the Makerfield byelection. This is how it starts.
double quotation mark— Andy Burnham’s supporters expect senior members of Keir Starmer’s cabinet to tell him in the days after Makerfield to agree a handover of power, in an attempt to make it impossible for him to continue in post.
— Burnham would rather not directly launch a leadership challenge against Starmer, sources say. Instead, his allies are asking the cabinet to persuade the PM to agree an orderly transition and not to run in a contest. That showdown could take place on Friday or over the weekend.
— Some senior cabinet ministers now think it’s inevitable Burnham will replace this summer, a shift in sentiment against the PM. It’s likely some will tell him he should step aside, sources say, though they’re doubtful more than a handful are prepared to resign to force him out. The most loyal cabinet ministers accept Starmer won’t lead Labour into the next election but aren’t pushing for a quick change.
double quotation mark— Andy Burnham’s supporters expect senior members of Keir Starmer’s cabinet to tell him in the days after Makerfield to agree a handover of power, in an attempt to make it impossible for him to continue in post.
— Burnham would rather not directly launch a leadership challenge against Starmer, sources say. Instead, his allies are asking the cabinet to persuade the PM to agree an orderly transition and not to run in a contest. That showdown could take place on Friday or over the weekend.
— Some senior cabinet ministers now think it’s inevitable Burnham will replace this summer, a shift in sentiment against the PM. It’s likely some will tell him he should step aside, sources say, though they’re doubtful more than a handful are prepared to resign to force him out. The most loyal cabinet ministers accept Starmer won’t lead Labour into the next election but aren’t pushing for a quick change.
Anna Turley, the Labour chair, has urged Kemi Badenoch to sack Matt Vickers as deputy Tory chair over the interview where he joked about the arson attack on Keir Starmer’s home. (See 12.31pm and 1.40pm.) In a statement issued after PMQs (where David Lammy just said Vickers should apologise for his response), she said:
double quotation markIt is frankly sickening that anyone would seek to laugh and joke about an appalling attack on a fellow politician’s family home. To do so on the same day as we stood in unity to mark the anniversary of our dear friend and much missed colleague Jo Cox, is beyond the pale.
Matt Vickers is not fit to be an MP and if Kemi Badenoch had an ounce of integrity or respect for the safety of those who seek to serve the public, she would do the right thing and sack him today.
double quotation markIt is frankly sickening that anyone would seek to laugh and joke about an appalling attack on a fellow politician’s family home. To do so on the same day as we stood in unity to mark the anniversary of our dear friend and much missed colleague Jo Cox, is beyond the pale.
Matt Vickers is not fit to be an MP and if Kemi Badenoch had an ounce of integrity or respect for the safety of those who seek to serve the public, she would do the right thing and sack him today.
Andy Burnham will not take a job in a Keir Starmer cabinet, his team is briefing.
This morning Starmer said that he wanted Burnham to have a “big role” in government if he wins the Makerfield byelection. (See 8.55am.) This was seen as an attempt to avert a leadership challenge, and Starmer has also suggested that Burnham should focus on helping Labour to win the Greater Manchester mayoral election in his first few weeks as an MP. (See 9.20am.)
It is unlikely that Starmer seriously expects Burnham to accept a job, and this afternoon the Manchester Evening News is reporting that Burnham has ruled out the idea.
In his story, Rob Williams said:
double quotation markA senior source who spoke to the M.E.N. ruled out Mr Burnham taking a job in Starmer’s government telling us ‘the benefit Andy has is the wind of change for not having been associated with the government’s failings’.
The source also told us that the discussion of the Greater Manchester mayoral elections was an attempt to put ‘further challenges up’ and that if Keir Starmer stays it will give people ‘an excuse to vote against Labour’ in that election. If Mr Burnham wins the Greater Manchester Mayoral election is expected to take place at the end of July.
double quotation markA senior source who spoke to the M.E.N. ruled out Mr Burnham taking a job in Starmer’s government telling us ‘the benefit Andy has is the wind of change for not having been associated with the government’s failings’.
The source also told us that the discussion of the Greater Manchester mayoral elections was an attempt to put ‘further challenges up’ and that if Keir Starmer stays it will give people ‘an excuse to vote against Labour’ in that election. If Mr Burnham wins the Greater Manchester Mayoral election is expected to take place at the end of July.
UDPATE: Here is the video of Starmer making his offer earlier.
