Can Burnham’s ‘new path’ revive Labour?
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
The Pat Kenny Show. With timber living log cabins. Saturday and Sunday from 10am. On Newstalk. Conversation that counts. You know, tomorrow, the Andy Burnham era begins.
If we want an economy and a country that works for all people and places, which to me should always be at the very core of labourism, then it requires a new path to the one we've been on for the last 40 years. The government I lead will confidently lay that path out starting next week. It will take us to a country where life is more affordable. And all people and places are lifted from where they are now. And Conference, this is my fourth commitment to you.
How did Andy Burnham announce his 'new path' for Labour and what were his core promises?
I mean it when I say all places. I will be a leader for the North, the South, the East and the West. For Scotland, Wales and for Northern Ireland.
So Andy Burnham is set to walk through the doors of No. 10 tomorrow, becoming the UK's new Prime Minister after securing the overwhelming support from Labour MPs. The former Greater Manchester Mayor arrives with a reputation as a politician who can connect with voters who've drifted away from Labour, and he's promised a government focused on devolution, communities and the cost of living, but he inherits a party still struggling in the polls and facing that major challenge from Reform UK. Joining us now, Sir John Curtis, Professor of Politics at Strathclyde University and Senior Fellow at the National Centre for Social Research and UK in a Changing Europe. Good morning and welcome. Good to be with you.
Now, Andy Burnham is about to become Prime Minister without winning a general election. Is that terribly unusual in the British system?
Oh, no, far from unusual. Indeed, the majority of changes of Prime Minister in post-war British politics are have occurred during the middle of a parliament rather than as the result of somebody winning a general election. And of course, it's been particularly true. Most recently, we had Rishi Sunak taking over from Liz Truss, who herself had taken over from Boris Johnson, who took over from Theresa May, who took over from David Cameron. These were all changes of prime minister that occurred without a general election taking place. But, of course, you can go back further. John Major taking over for Margaret Thatcher, Jim Callaghan taking over from Harold Wilson. And so I'd assume taking over from Howard MacMillan.
Of course, I'd assume indeed it's the last person. to have become Prime Minister and evidently going in that direction without being a member of the House of Commons. In his instance, he was a member of the House of Lords and had to resign from the Lords and also fight a by-election, but in that case with the backing of his party. And with a view to becoming prime minister, Andy Burnham, of course, although not Keir Starmer's idea, fought the making field by election one, and that's paved his way now to becoming prime minister. So there's a very interesting parallel there to some degree with all the way back to 1963.
Now, predictably, Nigel Farage has demanded a general election. I mean, on one level, you can see it's to perhaps try to save his own blushes in Clacton with a motley crew of some 34 candidates fighting for that seat. On the other hand, he's saying that Burnham has no democratic legitimacy in going there to be crowned rather than elected PM.
Yeah, we always have this argument every time. It happens, and it's already said, it happens regularly that somebody becomes prime minister without winning a general election. It's not a surprise if one or more opposition parties say, I want a general election. Actually, the Conservatives are not saying that they think Mandy Boehm should have a general election straight away, although they do think perhaps there should be one for 2029. The truth is, it's not obvious that it's in anybody's particular interest at the moment to hold a general election because it's not obvious that anybody would come close to winning. Reform, of course, has been ahead in the opinion polls in the UK now for well over 12 months, going back to the spring of last year.
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