Politics Home | Labour Mayor Says Andy Burnham’s Return To Government Should Not Be Blocked

Andy Burnham is reportedly meeting with MPs today (Alamy)

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Speaking to PoliticsHome, Godwin, who was elected mayor for the West of England last year, said that she “does not know” if Keir Stamer can deliver the reset government needs. 

She added that she did not know if Starmer would lead Labour into the next election.

PoliticsHome has reported that Labour leadership hopeful Burnham is to meet Labour MPs in London today in the hope of ensuring there is a timetable for a leadership change that would allow him a run.

Burnham is one of the candidates favoured among Labour MPs to replace Starmer, but he would first have to return to Parliament as an MP.

On Tuesday afternoon, pressure was growing on Starmer to resign. Two ministers have so far resigned, and four junior aides quit on Monday evening. 

Starmer attempted another reset on Monday at a speech in London, where he set out plans for the nationalisation of British steel and for closer ties to the European Union. 

Speaking to PoliticsHome on Tuesday afternoon as resignations continued, Godwin said: “The reset, if it’s coming, needs to mean something to people. And I don’t think, as yet, we’ve been able to get that.”

Asked if Starmer can deliver that reset, Godwin replied: “I don’t know.”

PoliticsHome also asked Godwin if Starmer would lead Labour into the next election, to which she also responded: “I don’t know.”

On Burnham, Godwin said: “He would be great if he was an MP again. I feel he gets us. He speaks really well. He connects with people down here,  he’s obviously mayor of Manchester, and does a brilliant job at that. But people down here seem to connect with him as well. We should have all our best people in government.

“If that’s where he wants to be, I don’t think he should be blocked.”

Burnham put himself forward for candidate selection for the Gorton and Denton by-election this year but was blocked by the NEC.

Godwin said she “wouldn’t dislike the idea of Burnham as Prime Minister,” if Starmer were to step down.