“Vote Andy For Us” is the slogan Andy Burnham has centred campaign around in the Makerfield by-election.
His denunciations of Thatcherism, neoliberalism, and Westminster politics – alongside his support (in words, at least) for more public ownership – may resonate with some working-class voters seeking radical change.
But beneath the surface of his left-sounding slogans, Burnham has never been a champion of radical change. He is nothing but a charlatan; a career politician who has consistently aligned himself with the Labour establishment and the interests of big business.
Westminster careerist
Should Burnham find success in Makerfield, this will not be his first stint in Parliament. Before becoming Mayor of Greater Manchester, he served as a Labour MP under Tony Blair – a champion of the Thatcherite agenda that Burnham now claims to oppose.
In 2003, Burnham voted with the government in favour of the invasion of Iraq – a war that led to hundreds of thousands of deaths, displaced millions, and contributed to the chaos we see in the Middle East to this day.
Going on to become Health Secretary in the Gordon Brown government, he played a large role in overseeing further privatisation of the NHS.
At this time, New Labour greatly expanded the use of Private Finance Initiatives (PFIs), funnelling billions away from patient care and into the pockets of private firms.
From these initiatives, the NHS has inherited only £13 billion in assets, while being saddled with £80 billion in repayments, leaving working-class people to foot the bill through mounting pressure on public services.
Having lost to Jeremy Corbyn in the 2015 Labour leadership contest, Burnham secured himself a place in Corbyn’s shadow cabinet. Sensing which way the wind was blowing, like any good opportunist, he steered clear of the factional divides between Corbyn and the right, to avoid being caught in the crossfire.
‘Manchesterism’
Burnham left Parliament in 2017 to become Mayor of Greater Manchester, where he has been praised by certain ‘lefts’ for his programme of ‘Manchesterism’. Supporters of Burnham point to Manchester’s ‘booming economy’ as a marker for his success as Mayor.
But the endless construction of luxury high-rises does not translate into an improvement in the living standards of ordinary Mancunians, and nor does a ‘boom’ in the city’s financial services sector.
Homelessness in Manchester has just reached a record high, as has the number of people in the city living in temporary accommodation.
A Shelter spokesperson commented that “soaring living costs and sky-high rents mean people in Manchester are barely scraping by”. Meanwhile, Burnham offers tax breaks to his billionaire buddy at Renaker to build more luxury flats containing no affordable housing.
Burnham does not represent a break with the Labour right, nor Westminster politics. He represents nothing but the hated status quo.
While those on the ‘left’ and right of Labour are desperately praying for their saviour, the reality is that anyone who finds themself in Starmer’s shoes will have no choice but to do ‘business as usual’. If Burnham becomes prime minister, it would likely be the final nail in Labour’s coffin.
Word on the street in Manchester
“I think they’re all wankers to be honest.”
“They’re all going to be voting Reform, so I don’t think Andy Burnham is going to do anything. I don’t think any of them will be able to do anything.”
“We’re just a stepping stone for Andy Burnham, for him to become prime minister.”
Green and unpleasant plans – No trust in Burnham!
Hugh Nankervis, Oxford
As reported in the Guardian, “the Greens are locked in an internal debate about how hard to challenge Andy Burnham in the Makerfield by-election, with some members worried about allowing Reform UK to win and others wanting their party to go all-out”.
Some parts of the Green Party – particularly the liberal, old-guard types like Caroline Lucas – believe that concessions can be won from Labour’s prodigal son, should he win and be chosen as the new Labour leader.
The result of this pressure on Polanski: an apparent compromise candidate in Sarah Wakefield – who replaced another local candidate that was forced to step down due to antisemitism smears – and a “scaling back” of their campaign.
What concessions are some Green figures hoping for? Electoral reform, in the form of proportional representation, and some sort of anti-Reform pact down the line.
But the victory of Hannah Spencer showed that the formula of ‘tactical voting’ for the ‘lesser evil’ is entirely unnecessary – and would’ve been actively harmful – when the Greens can instead cut across Reform and Labour with a bold programme.
It was this that defeated “the parties of billionaire donors”, as Polanski said, not proportional representation! And as the more left-leaning Green deputy leader Mothin Ali put it: “If Burnham can’t win an election without the Greens giving him an easy ride, how’s he going to beat Reform in a general election?”
Moreover, the track record of the ‘King in the North’ paints a different picture to those Green figures who paint him as an ally.
Even now, he is tacking right on immigration, saying that he will keep Shabana Mahmood’s reactionary policies, in an attempt to out-bigot Reform. Burnham has also pledged that he will stick to Rachel Reeves’ fiscal rules, and that he will respect the bond markets – so much for politics needing a “new script”!
For anyone hoping that a Green alliance with Burnham can be a force for radical change, or that this charlatan can be pushed to the left, you will be waiting forever!
To those fighting in the Greens for a party that can deliver real change: the struggle within the Greens is not over yet. The only way to defeat the establishment parties is to break from them – and that means fighting the establishment-friendly liberals in your own ranks.
