Alistair Campbell

that the reason he wants to get into parliament is to mount a challenge against Keir Starmer.

Now, if you're Keir Starmer, it's not your responsibility as leader of the Labour Party to say, bring it on.

I think Andy Burnham must have known, should have known, that the national executive was likely to block him from doing this because that was the state, that was the purpose.

Well, hold on a minute.

I think there is something big.

I was really surprised over the weekend when this was going on.

How many people, including big supporters, one in particular, big supporter of Andy Burnham in Manchester said,

who said to me this, he said he was sickened by it.

Because he said Andy Byrne has been elected as mayor.

Every recognizer is doing a very good job.

And he's basically saying to Manchester, you are a bit of a kind of stepping stone because I think I should be prime minister.

Everybody's focusing on Keir Starmer's... And by the way, I think they're both to blame for the state of the mess that's being created, okay?

Would you have blocked Burnham?

If I'd have thought that he was doing this...

In order to get a seat, in order to mount a challenge against Keir Starmer, I think I probably would.

Okay.

They're kind of saying that.

It's not just another election.

It's the mayoralty election, which is like 20-odd by-elections.

You're talking millions.