Labour’s Makerfield by-election candidate was responding to press reports about his plans for government
Andy Burnham has taken to social media to warn people “not to believe everything you read in the papers” after reports surfaced with claims about his plans for government. Some reports emerging on Saturday evening claimed Mr Burnham, who is standing for Labour in the forthcoming Makerfield by-election, is planning to hold a snap general election if he is returned to Parliament and then installed as Keir Starmer’s replacement in 10 Downing Street.
Further reports suggested that if he is elected as Labour’s new leader and the new Prime Minister of the UK, Merseyside-born Mr Burnham would make current Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood his Chancellor.
But Mr Burnham, the current Mayor of Greater Manchester, has moved quickly to warn people against believing the reports.
He took to social media site X, where he is very active in responding to comments and stories, and said: “I know you know this but don’t believe everything you read in the papers.”
He followed his comment with a shrugging and crying laughing emoji.
The Makerfield by-election will see Mr Burnham take on Reform UK’s Robert Kenyon among other candidates from other parties.
The initial polling for the constituency suggests the fight will be closely contested between Labour and Reform, with Mr Burnham narrowly ahead on 43% to Mr Kenyon’s 40%.
The Reform candidate has been under major pressure over a number of controversial posts linked to him on since deleted social media and internet forum accounts.
Some of the remarks linked to Mr Kenyon have been condemned as misogynistic, in others he appeared to interact with far-right figures and described abortion as “cowardly murder”.
If Mr Burnham edges out his Reform rival, it is widely assumed that he will make a bid to become the new Labour leader and replace under-fire Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, who has faced ministerial resignations and a large number of his own MPs calling for him to step down since overseeing Labour’s terrible local election results earlier this month.
The Makerfield by-election will take place on June 18.
