𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Andy Burnham came under fire on tonight’s Question Time for dodging questions about his leadership ambitions. The Greater Manchester Mayor was repeatedly grilled about whether he would challenge Sir Keir Starmer if he wins the crunch Makerfield by-election.

An audience member said: “I watch the programme all the time, every week, and I just find that politicians can never answer a question straight. You ask them a question, you never get an answer.”

As the audience clapped, she continued: “Andy, it is so disappointing when Fiona asks will you stand to challenge Keir Starmer that you cannot say yes that you will. We all know that you will, so why can’t you just say it?”

Mr Burnham went on to finally admit he would enter a Labour leadership race.

He said: “I’m not somebody who gets ahead of myself. I can’t do anything unless I’m lucky enough to get the support of people here.

“But if I get your support, I would seek to represent you at the highest possible level and give this constituency maximum power and influence.

“I think Wes Streeting seems to have launched a leadership contest, so if that is running, I would seek to join it. But I’d have to persuade members of the Parliamentary Labour Party to do the same.

“So that’s the only question… I’ve said to my team, let’s have a proper look at this and let’s develop a policy.”

The Greater Manchester Mayor has previously pledged that a vote for him in Makerfield would be a vote to “change Labour” but has not explicitly said he would launch a bid until now.

Elsewhere during the show, Mr Burnham was asked by another audience member what he would do to make the Labour Party “great again”.

He replied: “It’s an important question, it’s not a given and I don’t see it as such.

“I’m fighting hard because to me it is about trying to rebuild politics and make it work for people here.

“And when I was in the Cabinet, I had influence and I used it for people here.”

He listed a series of examples, then went on: “I have always used my political influence for people here.

“I’ve never abandoned this place at all. On Sunday, it’s the 25th anniversary of me being an elected Greater Manchester representative.

“But I know I can’t do everything within the system as it currently is. So all I can say to you is I would take the fight to change politics and change this country as high as I could so that it works for here, and it doesn’t work for here right now.”