UK: Burnham one step further in power struggle
The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham of the Labour Party, has won the by-election for a seat in parliament representing the Makerfield constituency. As an MP in London, he can now challenge the embattled Prime Minister Keir Starmer in a leadership election. If successful, he would become the new head of government.
His time has not yet come
Burnham has good reasons to avoid a power struggle with Starmer for the time being, says The Guardian:
“[Burnham] could do with a longer run-up before leaping straight into Downing Street. Some have concerns about a policy programme that, vibes aside, seems remarkably similar to that being pursued by the current prime minister. They worry about polls showing the Greater Manchester mayor's rating with voters has slipped into net negative figures since he made plain his desire to run the entire country. Others know he risks alienating a section of Labour MPs and members who are loyal to Starmer and believe the government is finally beginning to notch up some real achievements.”
A beacon of hope to counter despair
For the Financial Times, Burnham has what it takes to save Britain from the populists:
“Burnham's key asset is a genial public persona. He offers voters permission to take a second look at Labour. ... He also manifests another aspect of hope: someone might at last listen to those who feel neglected and failed by politics. ... After a decade of disappointment, voters will want more substance than an empathetic, cheery manner. But the alternative is despair and the uglier politics that heralds. Hope is not a nice-to-have, it's an essential aspect of leading. Starmer's inability to inspire it in either words or deeds lies at the root of his failure.”
Nothing but a springboard
Andy Burnham is clearly not focused on the Makerfield constituency or the worries and hardships of its voters, Il Manifesto points out:
“The locals know only too well that 'Andy' – an all-weather politician, having supported Blair, Brown and Corbyn in their time – will use his constituency to catapult himself into Downing Street, where he soon forget the traffic, poverty and migration problems that plague Makerfield.”