Andy Burnham has launched his campaign for the Makerfield by-election with a promise that a vote for him is a 'vote to change Labour'. The Greater Manchester Mayor, who has long harboured leadership ambitions, made the pitch on Friday, telling supporters that British politics 'needs a new script'.
Speaking at an event in Ashton-in-Makerfield, Burnham said: 'This is a change by-election. Politics in this country, British politics, is tired. It needs a new script.' He added: 'I know my own party needs to change. We need to be better than we have been. A vote for me in this by-election is a vote to change Labour.'
Burnham, widely expected to challenge Sir Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership if he wins the seat on 18 June, distanced himself from rival Wes Streeting's call for a wealth tax. Instead, he suggested landowners should pay more and called for council tax reform, while repeating his support for scrapping inheritance tax in favour of a social care levy.
On immigration, Burnham backed Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood's hardline reforms, saying: 'We'll have to work hard to get the balance right, but the broad thrust of what she's doing is right.' He argued that net migration needed to fall further, noting that the latest figures show a 48% drop in the last 12 months.
Burnham also reiterated his support for electoral reform, saying Labour's next manifesto should commit to proportional representation, but ruled out changing the system before the next election. He said there was 'space to be more radical' within Labour's 2024 manifesto, including building more council houses and rail renationalisation.
The by-election comes amid stiff competition from Reform UK, which secured 50% of the vote in the wards up for grabs in May's local elections, compared to Labour's 23%.
