Andy Burnham talked about the biggest change moment in 40 years of British politics and ending factionalism in the Labour Party. As he formally accepted the Labour leadership, his message to his party boiled down to this: be loyal to me and we can win the next election.
In his address, we learned more of the contours of Burnham’s plans but precious little about new policy. He promised devolution, reindustrialisation and more public ownership.
As is traditional with Labour’s Politburo approach, there was a warm-up for the warm-up, speeches from Labour’s Deputy Leader. Lucy Powell, and National Secretary Hollie Ridley. And they were before Shabana Mahmood as chair of the National Executive Committee stood up to announce what everyone in the room already knew. It’s…. Andy.
Powell, a Greater Manchester MP, has long pushed for Burnham to return to Parliament. Her speech was designed to assuage some of the anger felt by allies of the outgoing prime minister, even now bruised and bitter over his departure, despite Keir Starmer himself being magnanimous in defeat.
This moment in a hot, sweaty room at the TUC’s HQ in central London was deliberately designed to signal a “coming together”, even though there has been no contest. It was less a coronation, more a conclave of cardinals. But even though the white smoke was never in doubt, Burnham knows he has bridges to build.
