Andy Burnham Hits Out At His Critics For 'Underestimating Peril Labour Is In'

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, appeared to challenge Keir Starmer's leadership last week.Andy Burnham has accused those who have criticised his recent attacks on Keir Starmer for “underestimating the peril” Labour is in right now.The Labour mayor of Greater Manchester publicly slammed the government in a series of interviews last week, alleged No.10 was creating a “climate of fear” and claimed the prime minister does not have a plan to turn the country around.Amid speculation that he is preparing a leadership challenge to Keir Starmer, he also claimed the UK must “get beyond this thing of being in hock to the bond markets”.His remarks sparked intense backlash within the party, and he was promptly slapped down by Starmer, who compared Burnham to Liz Truss.But the mayor appeared to retaliate while speaking at a fringe event at the annual Labour conference today.The former cabinet minister – who left Westminster in 2017 – said: “I was clear in the interviews I gave last week, I wanted to launch a debate about the direction of the party and getting a plan to beat Reform UK. “It’s not just in the distance in 2029, for a lot of councillors, members of the Senedd, MSPs, it’s 2026, we have to focus on that. “We need a story that connects more with people.“Those out there making calls for simplistic statements of loyalty are underestimating the peril the party is in. “We have to do the right thing for our colleagues out there on the doorstep.“Whitehall and Westminster don’t like being answered back.”Burnham claimed Labour MPs had been urging him to challenge the PM in an interview with The Telegraph last week.His remarks come just as leading pollsters Ipsos listed Starmer as the most unpopular prime minister on record, even surpassing Truss who almost crashed the economy with her disastrous mini-Budget.Just 13% of voters are satisfied with the job he is doing, compared to 79% who are unsatisfied.But Starmer dismissed the growing threats to his leadership this morning.He told the BBC: “Comments about leaders and leadership are part and parcel of being in politics. It is the bread and butter of politics. Every leader gets it. It always comes up, particularly at conference. It is in the job description.“I don’t focus on that – I focus on what we’ve got to get done.”Asked if he was ignoring voters, he said: “People are entitled to their views, and I’m not sticking my fingers in my ears in the slightest.”Related...Keir Starmer Compares Andy Burnham To Liz Truss As Labour War Of Words EscalatesLabour Civil War Erupts As Andy Burnham Accused Of Risking Truss-Style Economic MeltdownCabinet Minister Dismisses Burnham Leadership Bid With Brutal 2-Word Slapdown

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