Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham faces criticism from colleagues who label him a “political weather vane” for his inconsistent economic positions. This week, he alarmed investors by advocating for an end to the UK’s reliance on foreign lenders, reports BritPanorama.
In a recent statement, Burnham argued that the UK must “get beyond this thing of being in hock to the bond market,” amid growing speculation regarding his ambitions to return to Westminster.
However, resurfaced footage from Burnham’s bid for the Labour leadership a decade ago reveals a stark contrast; he previously emphasized the necessity of demonstrating “strong and stable finances.” He attributed Labour’s 2015 electoral defeat to a decline in “economic credibility,” insisting that the party must present a solid track record in managing public finances.
In another interview, Burnham noted, “Labour won’t win in 2020 unless we can convince people that we can be trusted with the economy.”
A Labour source commented, “He is a political weathervane – he blows with the wind,” while another remarked, “He’s agreed with so many different views, he’s forgotten his own mind.”
A recent poll indicates Burnham’s personal approval rating significantly surpasses that of Sir Keir Starmer by 51 points. However, he lags behind Nigel Farage when respondents were asked who would make the best prime minister.
James Crouch from pollster Opinium remarked, “While Andy Burnham has been touted as a potential successor [to Sir Keir], our polling suggests he is far from a silver bullet when it comes to taking on Nigel Farage.”
