The Guardian view on Labour after Makerfield: change must mean more than a new leader
Andy Burnham has shown Labour can beat Reform. He must show that his promise of change is a programme, not another slogan for power
TL;DR
- Andy Burnham won the Makerfield byelection with 55% of the vote, defeating Reform UK's candidate.
- Labour's victory was attributed to Burnham's personal brand and anti-Starmer, left-wing economic message, rather than Starmerism itself.
- Burnham's rhetoric focused on economic security through a visible state, offering a shift towards the state as a buyer, planner, and manager.
- The article questions how Burnham would deliver on promises of cheaper essentials, public control, fiscal expansion, and industrial renewal.
- Burnham's potential leadership poses a dilemma for Keir Starmer: either call a leadership contest or resign.
- A leadership contest could force Burnham to develop a detailed program, specifying actions for the first 100 days, legislative needs, costs, and areas of departure from Starmerism.
- Avoiding a contest could prevent Labour from appearing unstable, but it risks repeating the original sin of Starmerism if the change is not clearly defined.
- If MPs rally behind Burnham solely due to his poll ratings against Starmer's weakness, a contest may become more necessary.