Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has said that Labour can bring change the “corrosive” culture in Westminster and must show now that the party can bring hope to win the next general election.
He said that the next general election will be “the most unpleasant” we would have seen “in our liftimes” which will bring radical change to have the UK is run under Labour.
Burnham said during a show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, “We have allowed a corrosive, divisive politics to separate people one from another.”
He added, “The Labour Party has put itself in a position where it can bring change – and that’s a great thing, congratulations to the people who’ve been there, put us in that position – the Labour Party needs to show how it can bring hope.”
Burnham was asked if he enjoys his job as Mayor, he said, “I do feel energised – and I do think this thing that we’re building, this conversation we’re building in the regions and the nations, is of more importance.
“This mentality that Westminster is the only show in town and we have to rush back there is actually what’s wrong.”
Burnham said he hopes there will be a Labour government led by Sir Keir Starmer after the next election.
He then said the next general election would likely be “the most unpleasant, divisive general election that we will have seen in our lifetimes,” which will bring “the hope and that kind of radical change to the way the country is run.”
Burnham was asked if he would take another job in central government, he said, “If a path opens up in time then, of course, I’m not going to turn away from that.
“I think there potentially is one last go at Westminster somewhere. But I want to be clear about this – I would only be going back to enact what I’ve talked about today.”
