Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has delivered a scathing critique of the culture of anonymous briefing within the Labour Party, while carefully absolving Prime Minister Keir Starmer of any personal blame for the recent controversy. The former MP, who was blocked from standing in a crucial by-election, expressed his frustration at what he described as attempts to "denigrate the character" of elected politicians by unnamed party sources.
A Stark Warning Against Westminster's 'Stock in Trade'
In a forthright interview with BBC Radio Manchester, Mr Burnham issued a stern warning to those who engage in media briefings, drawing parallels with practices he observed during the eras of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. He emphasised that individuals paid from the public purse do not possess a "license to lie," directly challenging the opaque political manoeuvring that often characterises Westminster.
Blocked Candidacy and Subsequent Fallout
The political storm erupted after Labour's National Executive Committee voted decisively, by a margin of eight to one, to prevent Mr Burnham from contesting the Gorton and Denton by-election in Greater Manchester. A particularly galling aspect for the Mayor was discovering the media had been informed of the NEC's decision before he received official notification himself, a sequence of events he cited as indicative of the party's current operational culture.
In response to anonymous claims from sources close to the Prime Minister suggesting Mr Burnham was pre-warned about his rejection, the Mayor took to social media to brand the allegations "simply untrue." He reiterated this position during the radio phone-in, firmly rejecting any insinuation that he had been dishonest about the timeline of events.
Explicit Exoneration of the Prime Minister
Despite his anger at the conduct of party officials and unnamed sources, Mr Burnham was meticulous in separating the Prime Minister from the criticism. He stated unequivocally, "I'm not blaming anybody at the top of the government and certainly not the Prime Minister." He revealed that he had subsequently held a "fair exchange" with Mr Starmer, during which both men candidly expressed their feelings on the matter.
Mr Burnham expressed a preference for having spoken to the Prime Minister prior to the NEC's decision, believing it might have fostered a more positive outcome for all involved. He stressed that his motivation for seeking to stand was never to undermine the government, but rather to contribute his experience to addressing issues he believes are hindering progress in Greater Manchester.
Commitment to Campaign Amidst Criticism
Looking forward, the Mayor vowed not to succumb to bitterness. He pledged his full support to the Labour campaign in the upcoming by-election, where the party will face a challenge from Reform UK. However, he made it clear that he would continue to "call out" the damaging practice of character assassination through media briefings, a tactic he noted had also recently been used against Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting.
In a pointed reference to the proposed Hillsborough Law, which would institute a statutory duty of candour for public servants, Mr Burnham credited the Prime Minister for his support of the measure. He argued that the principle of honesty should extend to all those funded by taxpayers, implicitly criticising the actions of the anonymous Labour sources who had spoken to the media.
