Andy Burnham criticises bankruptcy' of Labour approach to campaigning

"What I want to say today is that the time has most definitely come for a serious conversation about our political system and its pervading culture, particularly so in the aftermath of the Gorton and Denton byelection. It revealed the full depth of the chasm between people and Westminster politics. I don't think anybody can seriously dispute that statement."

"Labour's campaigning style prevented it from connecting with non-Labour voters and other progressive parties, as he evoked the system of clipboard-wielding canvassers going door to door with records of previous Labour supporters."

"Burnham described polling by More in Common that found a majority of people did not think the cost of living crisis would ever end as code red for Westminster politics. This is getting extremely dangerous, and change in our political system and culture is desperately needed."

Andy Burnham, mayor of Greater Manchester and regarded as a rival to Keir Starmer, has publicly criticized Labour's campaigning strategy as bankrupt and disconnected from voters. Speaking at the British Library, Burnham highlighted the party's failure to connect with non-Labour voters and progressive parties, using traditional clipboard-based canvassing methods focused only on previous supporters. His comments follow Labour's loss of the safe Gorton and Denton seat, where Starmer blocked Burnham from standing as candidate. The Green Party won the seat, with Reform UK second and Labour third. Burnham cited polling showing majority concerns about the cost of living crisis never ending, describing this as dangerous for Westminster politics and calling for systemic change.

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