Labour under Burnham will be faster and bolder, says minister

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has expressed confidence that under Andy Burnham’s leadership, the Labour Party would become “faster and bolder” in its approach to government. This statement came shortly after 322 Labour MPs put forward Burnham’s nomination to be the next party leader, leaving him just one nomination shy of a position that would make it mathematically impossible for any other candidate to challenge him. With Housing Secretary Steve Reed and Home Office Minister Mike Tapp announcing their support for Burnham, he is expected to meet the necessary threshold to be confirmed as the new Labour leader next week.

Nandy, whose parliamentary constituency of Wigan borders Burnham’s seat in Makerfield, spoke to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, emphasizing that a leadership contest was unnecessary. She backed Burnham’s proposal to establish a No 10 office in Manchester, viewing the move as a significant step toward decentralizing power and ensuring that all regions of the country have a louder voice in national affairs. “The first is that it will be faster and bolder, and he’s willing to think very differently about how we deliver that change,” Nandy stated. She added that Labour, under Burnham, would also be more open emotionally, declaring, “we will wear our hearts on our sleeves more.”

Burnham, who recently returned to Parliament following a by-election, is anticipated to be appointed Prime Minister by the King on 20 July. Nandy, who ran for Labour leadership in 2020 but was defeated by Sir Keir Starmer, had been expected to consider another leadership bid but has instead thrown her support behind Burnham, a longtime ally and friend. She mentioned that she and other members of the current cabinet have not yet been informed about their positions in Burnham’s prospective government, noting, “He [Burnham] has not offered any jobs to anybody and I firmly believe that’s the right thing to do.”

Opposition parties have voiced demands for Burnham to clarify his plans on several key issues, including reducing the welfare budget, closing the defense spending gap, managing immigration, expanding devolution beyond metropolitan areas, and introducing rent controls. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch criticized Sir Keir Starmer for allegedly leaving a £5 billion shortfall in defense funding, accusing Burnham of avoiding a snap election because of potential defeat. Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey argued that Burnham’s focus on cities like Manchester overlooks smaller coastal and rural communities. Green Party leader Zack Polanski urged the introduction of rent controls, highlighting research that a rent freeze in 2022 could have saved renters approximately £2,400 annually. Polanski called rent controls essential for Burnham if he is serious about tackling economic inequality and improving financial security for ordinary people

Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More