‘I will never be the type of politician that criticizes somebody for battling for their income, for their family, to pay the rent,’ Andy Burnham says

Andy Burnham, the mayor of Manchester, has backed striking rail workers and urged that Keir Starmer explain out his policies.

Staff wanting double-digit wage hikes have the ‘right’ to put the country to a halt, according to the Labour ex-MP, fueling speculation he is ‘on manoeuvres’ for a leadership candidacy.

While Sir Keir has steadfastly avoided taking a position on the coming strike, Mr Burnham has stated that he would not ‘demonize the workers.’

‘I will never be the type of politician that criticizes somebody for battling for their income, for their family, to pay the rent,’ he said on BBC Radio 4’s PM show. In difficult circumstances, they have every right to do so.

‘I don’t think Labour politicians should fall into the trap of criticising workers that are fighting for their incomes in the middle of a cost of living crisis.

‘Everybody should turn their fire on the people who can fix this – and that is the government.’

Mr Burnham also delivered a stinging attack on Sir Keir, who has been facing growing disquiet in his own ranks about his lacklustre performance and lack of a coherent policy platform.

‘There can’t be much further delay now in saying ‘this is what we are about’ so that people can get the sense of where the next Labour government would go,’ Mr Burnham said. ‘That really does have to happen at the annual conference in Liverpool. I would have said it should have started more last year.’

Next week is set to be blighted for millions of people when rail workers across the country go on strike.

There will be minimal services on a swathe of lines, with commuters urged to stay at home.

Unions have been demanding double-digit pay rises to match RPI inflation, even though the industry is already relatively well-paid and required massive taxpayer bailouts to stay afloat during Covid.

The Bank of England has been pleading for people to show restraint over pay rises to avoid making inflation even worse.

In a round of interviews this morning, business minister Paul Scully said the strikes ‘risk people’s livelihoods’ at a ‘fragile’ time for personal finances.

He also urged London Mayor Sadiq Khan to lift the congestion charge and stop non-essential roadworks on the strike days.

‘If you strike, you jeopardize other companies, other people’s lives, but also the rail system up and down the nation, including in London,’ he warned on LBC.

‘Because we’re at a stage when we’re trying to get people back to work, and it’s a delicate situation, every reason to keep people from traveling has a direct impact on the fee box and the rail service’s financial sustainability.

‘We don’t want anyone’s employment to be jeopardized, so please come around the table; it’s not helping anyone.’

‘What I would also recommend, if the rail strikes go forward, is that the mayor of London lowers the congestion charge and shuts down non-essential roadworks on strike days to make it simpler for people to get around and to work.’