Just after 8pm last night, Andy Burnham’s first Makerfield by-election campaign video was released. In it, he wanders the streets of Ashton-in-Makerfield, pointing out the school he sent his children to and condemning the policies of Thatcherism. We later see him appear on the streets of Manchester, where he is greeted by residents and business owners. This walk through Greater Manchester is accompanied by two of the city’s main musical exports: Oasis and Elbow.
Burnham has yet to be officially selected as Labour’s candidate, but it seems certain that he will be. (Confirmation is expected on Thursday, with June 18 the likely date for the vote.) His campaign slogan – “For us” – it has national and local resonance, which he demonstrates in the video. Walking along a red brick road typical of Lancashire’s former mill towns, Burnham says: “I saw what Margaret Thatcher’s government did in places like this … she left behind places like Makerfield. Britain has been on that road for the last 40 years.” Later in the video, he offers his solution: “Manchesterism is the end of neoliberalism.”
The Mayor of Manchester is getting it defending his record at Xresponding to criticisms of his analysis (and his running style) in sharp replies. It would be hard to imagine Keir Starmer being so forthright in defending his record, but it speaks to what many Labor MPs see as the difference between the two men. Burnham has a story to tell, a story that is deeply rooted in a place, while Keir Starmer has been endlessly criticized for his lack of vision. It is clear that this has an impact within the party. New poll from YouGov today shows that 59 per cent of Labor members would support Burnham, compared to 37 per cent who would support Keir Starmer.
Keir Starmer’s allies, however, are rallying around him. Prime told the broadcaster yesterday: “I’ve said I don’t know how many times I’m not going to leave. I feel very strongly that I have to serve the people who put me in office.” And this morning, Pat McFadden, the Work and Pensions Secretary, described the Makerfield vote as “unnecessary”. Some members of the public will agree. With further oil shocks coming on the way, and the economy stuttering under weight due to international uncertainty, there are undoubtedly many other issues the government should be focusing on, rather than fighting a by-election.
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But these early elections are happening. Josh Simons’ vacancy in parliament must be filled. This campaign is already extraordinary: the most likely Labor candidate will effectively run on an anti-Starmer platform in order to be elected as one of his MPs, only to then go on and potentially replace him. British politics has never seen anything like it before.
This piece first appeared in the Morning Call newsletter; get it every morning by subscribing to Substack here
(Further reading: Tony Benn teaching Andy Burnham)
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