Burnham vows to nationalise utilities if he takes Keir's place
Andy Burnham used his victory rally yesterday to outline radical policy pledges on everything from nationalisation to education reform.
The new MP for Makerfield reeled off a list of policies that were light on detail but could force taxation and spending even higher.
He vowed to end 'trickle-down economics' as he put mass renationalisation front and centre of his agenda.
Speaking at a local football ground, he repeated his warning to Labour that his election represented the 'last chance to change' – but he said he understood that he had not been handed a 'blank cheque' by Makerfield voters.
Appearing to echo Jeremy Corbyn's 2017 election slogan, 'For the many, not the few', he demanded an 'economy that works for everybody, not a few in far-off places'.
The former Greater Manchester mayor issued a series of policy demands that are likely to form the central plank of his strategy should he usurp Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister. However, they were branded a fantasy 'wish list' by critics.
Mr Burnham called for mass state intervention in key areas such as energy bills, water bills and rail fares. Although he refused to give details, he implied this would involve renationalising them as he did when taking control of Manchester's bus network.
He pledged a 'drive of reindustrialisation' across the North requiring 'big change in Whitehall'. This would include reforms to public procurement rules to prioritise investment in British industry and firms, he said, adding: 'It's about time we started backing British business.'
Andy Burnham speaks as he celebrates his victory in the Makerfield by-election at Ashton Town Football Club on June 19
Prime Minister Keir Starmer gestures as he talks with local residents as he visits a housing development on June 19
He also wants a change to the education system 'so young people growing up here have clear paths into that new industry'.
The Cambridge-educated MP said the domination of education by 'the university route' should be replaced by one that offered a technical or educational path for everyone.
Mr Burnham also pledged to guarantee work placements for all those aged 16 to 18 who wanted one, describing it as the 'kind of change we need if we are to give hope to young people'.
In a boost to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, he also suggested he wanted to go further and faster in cracking down on legal and illegal immigration.
Mr Burnham condemned mass immigration as a 'cut-price approach to procurement' of workers, echoing concerns he had heard on countless doorsteps during the campaign.
Referring to 'houses in multiple occupation' (HMOs), he said places such as Makerfield had become 'HMO Britain', demanding that business and the Government 'hear the call' of voters and end the unfairness of overloading working-class communities with illegal migrants.
But critics were scathing. One ally of Sir Keir warned that Mr Burnham would 'tank the markets' and create a Liz Truss-style mortgage rate crisis, adding: 'A long wish list is not how you become Prime Minister.
'There's a really big difference between winning a by-election and being Prime Minister.'
Mr Burnham condemned mass immigration as a 'cut-price approach to procurement' of workers while speaking to supporters in Makerfield on Friday
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Speaking of his plans, they added: 'The spending commitments already made are not possible. It's fantasy economics and [Labour MPs] know that.'
It came after immigration minister Mike Tapp, another Starmer ally, warned that moving too far from Labour's election mandate would demand a fresh general election. He told the BBC: 'Any candidate standing has to lay out exactly what they would do for the country, and if that agenda is too far from the manifesto, it's really difficult to not call a general election.'
An ally of Mr Burnham warned candidly that he and potential leadership rival Wes Streeting had 'shown little preparedness' ahead of the election.
Mr Burnham has hired respected economic advisers to allay market fears that he will repeat Liz Truss's mistakes, reportedly including former Bank of England chief economist Andy Haldane and ex-Goldman Sachs chief economist Jim O'Neill. Despite this, it was revealed yesterday that banks such as JP Morgan were warning clients that Mr Burnham was set to breach Rachel Reeves's fiscal rules for Government borrowing. He claims to back the rules, despite having urged Britain to stop being 'in hock' to bond markets.
Goldman Sachs added that his plans could delay interest rate cuts by the Bank of England.
Last night, a YouGov poll for The Times found only 21 per cent of voters nationally knew a lot or a fair amount about what he wanted to do as PM, 36 per cent knew nothing, and 43 per cent knew 'not very much'.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
