Andy Burnham says crunch by-election is chance for 'new script for Britain'

Andy Burnham says crunch by-election is chance for 'new script for Britain' EXCLUSIVE: Andy Burnham claimed power was finally where it 'should be' due to the by-election, in the hands of voters who had been ignored by Westminster for too long Andy Burnham has declared the Makerfield by-election is a chance to "write a new script for Britain". The Labour leadership hopeful claimed power was finally where it "should be", in the hands of voters who had been ignored by Westminster for too long. Speaking hours before voters go to the polls in the seismic contest, Mr Burnham pledged to bring in a new rule - where if something doesn't work for the Greater Manchester seat, it doesn't work for the country. Mr Burnham is the favourite to win the Makerfield by-election, with Opinum polling showed the Greater Manchester Mayor with a five point lead over his Reform rival, Robert Kenyon. In a speech broadcast on X, he said: "Whatever happens tomorrow permanent change must come for Makerfield and places like it. For too long Westminster has looked past places like this. Right now, the power is where it should be, in the hands of the people of this area, they have the chance to write a new script for Britain, one based on unity and hope. “We are the only party with the offer of a plan for the future that works for places like this. This is the politics of problem solving, not point scoring." In a sign of the concerns in Nigel Farage ’s party, this week Reform UK board member Gawain Towler claimed Mr Burnham “has made things very difficult” for the party and it will be a “very, very hard task” beating him. Mr Burnham's rallying cry comes just days after he vowed to ensure the voices of areas like Makerfield are heard after years of neglect from Westminster. He accused politicians of failing Northern communities for decades, and turning a “deaf ear” to the issues facing them. In a promise to Mirror readers, Mr Burnham pledged to fight for decent jobs, affordable homes, and safe streets for all, ahead of the seismic by-election on June 18th. Earlier this month, Mr Burnham announced plans to put himself forward for a leadership contest, and the former Health Secretary Wes Streeting has also set out plans to challenge the PM. Keir Starmer has vowed to fight and win any leadership contest, and on Wednesday claimed if Mr Burnham wins the first priority is the Greater Manchester by-election. He said: “First and foremost, I want Andy Burnham to win, and that’s why I’ve encouraged activists and members to go up there during the course of the campaign, and they’ll be up there tomorrow helping to get the vote out. “Then what happens is we’re immediately tipped into a Manchester mayoral contest by-election, one of the biggest by-elections that we’ve ever fought, because of the scale of it. “And it’s really important to my mind that the whole of the Labour Party and Labour movement focuses on that, which is the next most immediate task. “I don’t think there should be a challenge. I think history, particularly the last government, shows that that isn’t a successful way for a government to behave. “But if there is a challenge, then I intend to fight. I’m not going to walk away from that, and I’ve been clear and consistent about that.”