Reform UK to Andy Burnham – Bring it on and we’ll beat you | Politics | News | EUROtoday

Reform UK will beat Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham if he stands in a by-election in a bid to return to Parliament and succeed Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister, Nigel Farage’s social gathering has boasted. Claims that Mr Burnham is getting ready the bottom for a management bid have fuelled speak he may stand for a neighborhood Westminster seat in a by-election – a contest Reform would relish.

Deputy chief Richard Tice stated: “Bring it on Mr Burnham, Reform will take you on and defeat you on the electoral battlefield. The country wants Reform not a busted Burnham rehash.”

Reform got here second in 14 of the 27 seats in Greater Manchester and since then the social gathering has risen to the primary place within the nationwide polls and now instructions a double-digit lead over its rivals.

A Reform spokesman stated: “Reform’s recent results in Greater Manchester have proven that we are the party of working people and the only credible alternative to Labour in this area. We are always ready for every by-election, and look forward to taking the fight to this failed Labour government in their heartlands.”

The potential of a Westminster comeback by Mr Burnham was lent credibility when Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy stated she would “support” him in “whatever he decides to do”. Labour deputy management contender Lucy Powell is taken into account a key ally of Mr Burnham, who ran for the management in 2010 and 2015, having served as Health Secretary underneath Gordon Brown.

Simon Danczuk, a former Labour MP who stood for Reform within the Greater Manchester constituency of Rochdale in final yr’s by-election received by George Galloway of the Workers Party of Britain, warned a Westminster marketing campaign by the Mayor can be “doomed to failure”.

He stated: “I think Andy Burnham would struggle to beat Reform in any by-election in Greater Manchester.. I think Reform would storm it, actually.”

However, he didn’t suppose Sir Keir would stay Prime Minister till the subsequent normal election.

“I would be impressed if he manages to get past the local elections in May 2026,” he stated.

The curiosity in Mr Burnham main the social gathering, he stated, was proof of “desperation” in Labour.

Former Conservative MP Marco Longhi additionally expects Mr Farage’s social gathering would triumph in a by-election contest in opposition to the Mayor, with voters rejecting each Labour and the Tories.

“Labour and Conservatives are two sides of the same battered coin,” he stated.

Former Work and Pensions Esther McVey stated Mr Burnham can be a “disaster” as Prime Minister, telling GB News: “I would say Andy Burnham is Starmer with the northern accent. He’s a chameleon as well.

“He was a Blairite when he needs to be one, he was a Corbynista when he needs to be one… I think he’s going to be a disaster.”

A supply near the Mayor stated: “This is pure speculation with no substance.”