To put himself at odds with Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, Andy Burnham poses a fresh challenge to Sir Keir Starmer by stating that he WOULD join Mick Lynch on a picket line and that there is a “case” for nationalizing energy businesses.
Andy Burnham states that he would picket alongside RMT leader Mick Lynch.
The mayor of Manchester also asserts that there is “a rationale” for nationalizing energy companies.
His attitude on two major topics put him at differences with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.
Andy Burnham launched a new challenge to Sir Keir Starmer today when he stated he would join striking train employees on the picket line and support the nationalization of energy companies.
The mayor of Greater Manchester, who declined to rule out a future challenge for the Labour leadership, refused to support Sir Keir’s position on two crucial issues.
The former cabinet minister insisted he would join Mick Lynch, the fiery RMT union leader responsible for this summer’s punishing rail strikes, on the picket line.
Despite Sir Keir’s restriction on senior Labour MPs attending railway stations to assist striking rail workers in recent weeks, this is the case.
Amidst the cost-of-living problem, Mr. Burnham also argued that there was “a case” for public ownership of utilities such as gas and electricity companies.
Sir Keir stated last month that he had abandoned Labour’s prior £196billion plan to nationalize energy, rail, mail, and water industries, as advocated by former leader Jeremy Corbyn.
In a Sky News interview, Andy Burnham, who refused to rule out a future Labour leadership challenge, refused to endorse Sir Keir Starmer’s position on two crucial topics.
Sir Keir has distanced Labour from RMT leader Mick Lynch over this summer’s rail strikes, and he has instructed his party’s front bench to avoid picket lines.
The Labour leader has also abandoned his party’s prior £196 billion plan to renationalize electricity, rail, mail, and water firms, as advocated by former leader Jeremy Corbyn.
Mr. Burnham and Mr. Lynch are scheduled to attend tonight in Manchester at a rally for the new left-wing “Enough is Enough” campaign.
When asked on Sky News if he would also join Mr. Lynch on a picket line, the mayor of Greater Manchester responded, “You know, I would.” I do not find this contentious.
In a cost-of-living crisis, people are fighting for their paychecks. Obviously, you must acknowledge the point they are expressing.
They are going to work, but cannot support themselves.
Sir Keir has ordered his party’s frontbench to stay away from picket lines in an effort to dissociate Labour from Mr. Lynch over the summer train strikes.
The leader of the Labour Party asked his members of parliament to “adopt the mindset of government” by not taking sides in industrial disputes.
This position has generated a new divide between Sir Keir, Labour’s left-wing, and union leaders, which has been worsened by Sir Keir’s abandonment of Mr. Corbyn’s commitment to nationalize critical industries.
After dropping the party’s 2019 vow to nationalize energy, rail, mail, and water firms, the Labour leader stated that he would “take a pragmatic approach rather than an ideological one” to public ownership.
Today, though, Mr. Burnham asserted that there was “definitely a justification for stronger public control and ownership of key utilities.”
“When we sold off the water, the electricity, the gas, the council homes, the buses, and the trains, we found ourselves in a position where regular people could no longer afford these necessities,” he continued.
When questioned if Sir Keir was the proper person to head Labour, Mr. Burnham stated that he supported Sir Keir despite their differences.
The mayor of Greater Manchester stated, “Yes, he is, and I believe the support he enjoys in the polls demonstrates that.”
He did interfere in the summer with a price freeze program, which is a really positive start.
I would think that there is justification for proceeding.
However, Mr. Burnham refused once more to rule out a third attempt to become Labour leader, following two unsuccessful campaigns in 2010 and 2015.
He stated, “I’ve committed to serving a full second term as mayor of Greater Manchester.”
If at some point, far in the future from where we are now, that was a possibility, I would consider it.
But I’m only focused on what I’m doing at the moment.