Andy Burnham is set to share a platform with a Left-wing YouTuber who claims that 'wealth taxes that target the richest in society' are 'phenomenally popular with the public'. The Greater Manchester Mayor is scheduled to speak at a conference organised by the Left-leaning think-tank Compass, after reasserting his belief that the asset-rich middle classes should be taxed more.
Gary Stevenson, a self-styled YouTube economics guru with 1.6 million subscribers, will join him. The expletive-prone class warrior, who reportedly made millions as a trader at investment bank Citibank, once said that 'nobody on the f*****g Left understands what’s happening on the financial markets except me'. Mr Burnham was contacted for comment.
This development comes as Nigel Farage urged voters on the Right to unite behind Reform to 'stop Andy Burnham', following a poll showing the Makerfield by-election on a knife edge. The first survey of the contest placed the Greater Manchester Mayor on 43 per cent support, with Mr Farage's party close behind on 40 per cent. However, that gap was smaller than the 7 per cent detected for Restore Britain, set up by former Reform MP Rupert Lowe, while the Conservatives were on 2 per cent.
Mr Farage said the Survation findings exposed a 'two-horse race' in the Brexit-backing seat. 'Robert Kenyon is the only candidate who can stop Andy Burnham. This is a two-horse race - nobody else comes close,' he stated. The poll numbers have sparked renewed calls for a wider deal to prevent divisions on the Right opening the door to the Left. However, Mr Lowe trumpeted an endorsement from the world's richest man Elon Musk this morning as he pledged to 'intensify' campaigning in Makerfield.
Kemi Badenoch has ruled out 'any deals' with Reform. The parties have been ramping up their efforts this weekend, with less than a month until the vote on June 18. The tightness of the poll numbers reflects a significant personal bounce for Mr Burnham. Without him as the candidate, Labour was seen as losing to Reform by an 11-point margin.
