Andy Burnham vows to change Labour' in direct challenge to Keir Starmer

"If I get to stand, a vote for me will be a vote to change Labour, because Labour needs to change if we are to regain people's trust, Burnham said. He said his campaign in Makerfield would show how we lift up its people and places over the next decade. It will involve action to make the basics of life more affordable, like rents, bills and fares."

"Allies of the mayor said he would use this week to set out his economic agenda and to forcefully close down issues that could derail his return to Westminster, including ruling out any imminent return to the EU and recommitting to the fiscal rules on borrowing and debt. In comments designed to end a damaging row over Labour's position on Europe but which might irk some of his backers in the party Burnham said he did not want to restart debate about EU membership."

"My view is that Brexit has been damaging, but I also believe the last thing we should do right now is rerun those arguments, he said, a direct challenge to his would-be leadership rival Wes Streeting, who said over the weekend that the UK should seek to rejoin. He said Britain would be stuck in a permanent rut if we're just constantly arguing and said he would have a relentless domestic focus during his byelection run."

"Burnham, who is expected to be Labour's candidate in the Makerfield byelection, claimed it would be no ordinary campaign and said he would make it about national issues where Labour was failing, in a direct challenge to the prime minister. But a defensive Keir Starmer said on Monday he had no intention of stepping aside should Burnham win the byelection and that he wanted to fight the next election, setting up a potentially ugly battle for the leadership."

A Greater Manchester mayor set out a plan to reshape Labour and win back voters lost to the party. He said a byelection campaign would not be ordinary and would center on national issues where Labour is failing, aiming to regain public trust. He linked the campaign to making everyday costs more affordable, including rents, bills, and fares, and to lifting up people and places over the next decade. He also indicated an economic agenda would be set out, with steps to prevent distractions, including ruling out any imminent return to the EU and reaffirming fiscal rules on borrowing and debt. He said Brexit damage is real but argued against rerunning EU membership arguments, calling for a relentless domestic focus.

Read at www.theguardian.com