2015 Andy Burnham Labour Party leadership campaign

In 2015, Andy Burnham, the Member of Parliament for Leigh, stood as a candidate for leadership of the Labour Party in the United Kingdom. His candidacy was announced upon the release of a YouTube video on 15 May 2015.[1] His announcement involved the promise to "rediscover the beating heart of Labour" and appeal to the aspirations "of everyone".[2]

Andy for Leader
Campaigned for2015 Labour Party leadership election
CandidateAndy Burnham MP
StatusAnnounced: 15 May 2015
Nominated: 15 June 2015
Defeated: 12 September 2015
Headquarters83 Victoria St, Westminster, London, SW1H 0HW
Key people
  • John Lehal (Manager)
  • Michael Dugher MP (Parliamentary Manager)
  • Katie Myler (Communications)
SloganBe Part Of The Change

Burnham was initially considered the frontrunner in the race to succeed Ed Miliband.[3] However the emergence of Jeremy Corbyn as the candidate representing the left-wing faction of the party, in June 2015, and the consequent growth in support for Corbyn's campaign saw Burnham's lead diminish to the point that Corbyn overtook him – this was first reflected in a YouGov poll published by The Times on 21 July.[4]

Economic policy

In his official manifesto, Burnham pledged to offer "a balanced plan for a strong economy and sound public finances, providing a genuine alternative to Osborne's punishing austerity". His platform involved re-balancing the tax system, by restoring the 50p income tax rate that had been cut in the 2012 budget. He also signaled that he would not introduce the 'mansion tax' that was included in Labour's 2015 election manifesto, calling the proposal "the politics of envy".[5] His other policies included increasing the minimum wage and scrapping the youth rate, to create a "true living wage for all ages" and abolishing zero-hour contracts and unpaid internships.[6] He also announced that he would address the house price and rent crisis by giving councils greater freedom and increased borrowing powers to build more houses, regulate the private rented sector and introduce a land value tax on commercial properties.[7]

In August 2015, Burnham announced that he would commit Labour to "a policy of progressive re-nationalisation" of the railway system.[8] There was some speculation in the media that the announcement was an attempt by the Burnham campaign to align itself further to the left of the party and win back voters it had lost to the Corbyn campaign, as nationalisation had formed a key part of Corbyn's economic policy.[9] He continued to voice his opposition to the TTIP free trade agreement between the European Union and the United States, arguing that it would undermine the National Health Service, as it would "open the floodgates" to private healthcare providers.[10] He was also in favour of building a third runway at Heathrow Airport.[11]

Domestic policy

Education

During his time as Shadow Education Secretary between 2010 and 2011, Burnham indicated his belief in revitalising the comprehensive education system[12] – a view that he maintained in his leadership election manifesto. He pledged to reject the "growing market of free schools and academies",[13] replace tuition fees with a new graduate tax,[14] and end the charitable status held by private schools.[15]

National Care Service

One of Burnham's key policies was to integrate social care into the National Health Service.[16] This was a policy that Burnham had first proposed in 2010 as Health Secretary in Gordon Brown's government,[17] and then kept as a manifesto commitment during his campaign for party leader in 2010 and as Shadow Health Secretary in Ed Miliband's shadow cabinet. In July 2015, on the 70th anniversary of Labour's 1945 election landslide, Burnham announced that he would establish a "Beveridge-style commission" to look into possible means of funding such proposals.[18]

Welfare

Following the announcement by Harriet Harman, the acting Leader of the Opposition, that she would position the party to abstain on Iain Duncan Smith's Welfare Reform and Work Bill at its Second Reading in July 2015, Burnham reportedly clashed with her at a shadow cabinet meeting, by arguing that the party should table an amendment instead.[19] However, when the opposition's amendment failed, Burnham followed the party whip by abstaining.[20] Burnham sought to justify his failure to oppose the bill by stating that, if he had defied Harman, he would have caused a major split, consequently weakening the party.[21]

In September 2015, Burnham conceded, in an interview with The Independent, that his abstention had been a major turning point in the campaign and may have cost him the leadership.[22]

Foreign policy

Controversies

Burnham attracted press criticism for claiming £17,000 a year from the taxpayer to rent a London flat, despite owning another within walking distance of the House of Commons. A spokesman for Burnham said that renting out the original flat was necessary to "cover his costs" as parliamentary rule changes meant he was no longer able to claim for mortgage interest expenses.[23]

Burnham was criticised for saying that Labour should have a woman leader "when the time is right", with the New Statesman saying that he had "tripped over his mouth again". He also said that he would resign from the Shadow Cabinet if Labour supported leaving NATO, something which frontrunner Jeremy Corbyn had suggested.[24][25]

Burnham was criticised for refusing to be interviewed by "The Sun" when it emerged he had given an interview to the newspaper during his previous run for the Labour leadership, and been photographed in the back of a cab for "The Sun".[26]

Opinion polling
See also: 2015 Labour Party leadership election (UK) § Opinion polling

When Ed Miliband resigned on the day following the 2015 general election, Burnham was the bookies' favourite to succeed him as party leader.[27] This was reflected in the first opinion polls that were released days later, with Burnham holding a lead over Chuka Umunna and Yvette Cooper, although the number of undecided voters had the greatest share of the vote.[28] This continued following the PLP nomination deadline, as a poll by The Independent, published on 24 June, showed him opening up an 11-point lead, although Jeremy Corbyn's polling numbers had increased to 25%, from 11% in the previous week.[29]

Endorsements
See also: Endorsements in the 2015 Labour Party leadership election (UK)
List of Andy Burnham endorsements
Neil Kinnock
Labour Party leaders
Cabinet and Shadow Cabinet ministers
Members of Parliament
Members of European Parliament
Steve Coogan
Mayors and other municipal leaders
Other Labour Party figures
Academics
Artists and writers
Celebrities
Newspapers and magazines
Constituency Labour Parties
Affiliated trade unions

See also

References
  1. Beattie, Jason (13 May 2015). "Andy Burnham announces he's standing for Labour leadership with video message vowing to 'rediscover beating heart of party'". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  2. "Andy Burnham: We must find 'heart of Labour'". BBC News. 13 May 2015.
  3. Jane Merrick (16 May 2015). "Chuka Umunna was in third place in survey of defeated Labour parliamentary candidates, poll reveals". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  4. Sam Coates (21 July 2015). "Labour war as Corbyn closes in on leadership". The Times. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  5. "Who is Andy Burnham? Labour leadership contender guide". BBC News. 30 July 2015.
  6. Lucy Sheriff (6 August 2015). "Labour's Andy Burnham Pledges To Scrap Tuition Fees, Ban Unpaid Internships And Introduce Graduate Tax". HuffPost UK.
  7. Nicholas Cecil (4 August 2015). "It's all about the 'big vision' as Andy Burnham steps up the campaign to lead Labour". London Evening Standard.
  8. "Andy Burnham pledges to renationalise railway network". BBC News. 4 August 2015.
  9. Frances Perraudin (5 August 2015). "Andy Burnham vows to renationalise railways". The Guardian.
  10. George Eaton (13 February 2014). "Andy Burnham: NHS must be exempted from EU-US free trade agreement". New Statesman.
  11. "Heathrow third runway fight is just getting started". The Week. 3 August 2015.
  12. Louise Tickle (9 November 2010). "Andy Burnham, advocate for the comprehensive system". The Guardian.
  13. Nicholas Watt and Frances Perraudin (5 August 2015). "Andy Burnham sets sights on education and rail revolutions in manifesto". The Guardian.
  14. Aftab Ali (7 August 2015). "Labour leadership race: Andy Burnham pledges to scrap university tuition fees and replace with 'graduate tax' in new manifesto". The Independent. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022.
  15. Agnes Chambre (30 June 2015). "Andy Burnham: I would end private schools' charitable status". PoliticsHome.
  16. "Burnham announces Beveridge-style commission to review care service and potential graduate tax". LabourList. 28 July 2015.
  17. Andy Burnham (30 March 2010). "In Beveridge's footsteps – making care free for all". The Guardian.
  18. "Andy Burnham suggests new social care tax". BBC News. 28 July 2015.
  19. Patrick Wintour (14 July 2015). "Andy Burnham clashes with acting leader Harriet Harman over welfare bill". The Guardian.
  20. George Eaton (20 July 2015). "Burnham agrees to abstain on welfare bill – but threatens opposition as leader". New Statesman.
  21. Frances Perraudin (21 July 2015). "Andy Burnham: Labour made a mess of welfare bill vote". The Guardian.
  22. Andrew Grice (8 September 2015). "Labour leadership: Andy Burnham urges Jeremy Corbyn voters to think again in a last-minute plea". The Independent. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022.
  23. Tufft, Ben (24 May 2015). "Andy Burnham claims £17,000 a year in rent for London flat – despite owning another that's walking distance from Westminster". Independent. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 29 May 2015.
  24. "Andy Burnham: Labour should have a woman leader "when the time is right"". 25 August 2015.
  25. "Burnham 'would resign from Corbyn cabinet' over Nato and Trident stance". 25 August 2015.
  26. "The Sun embarrasses Andy Burnham for refusal to be interviewed". the Guardian. 13 July 2015. Retrieved 9 December 2022.
  27. Jon Stone (8 May 2015). "Andy Burnham is the bookies' favourite to succeed Ed Miliband as Labour leader". The Independent. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022.
  28. Burnell, Emma (10 May 2015). "First poll shows Labour leadership contest remains wide open". LabourList. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
  29. Andrew Grice (24 June 2015). "Labour leadership: Andy Burnham considered the contender most likely to improve party's general election chances". The Independent. London. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2015.
  30. Neil Kinnock (1 August 2015). "Labour needs a prime minister, not a debate. It needs Andy Burnham". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  31. David Blunkett (25 July 2015). "David Blunkett on Jeremy Corbyn: Left-wing Labour leader hopeful won't have answers needed in 2020". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  32. Lyons, James (7 June 2015). "Burnham is Labour's best bet, says Blair's flatmate". Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  33. "John Prescott backs Andy Burnham to be Labour leader". BBC News. 23 May 2015. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  34. "Why I'm backing Andy Burnham – SIR PETER SOULSBY, LEICESTER'S CITY MAYOR". Andy4Leader. 28 June 2015. Archived from the original on 1 July 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  35. Sky News (22 July 2015). "Ken Livingstone & Lord Levy Discuss Jeremy Corbyn". YouTube.
  36. Mikey Smith (31 July 2015). "'Abby Milifandom' backs Andy Burnham for Labour leadership". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  37. Clare Gerada (24 July 2015). "A champion for the NHS, a champion for our country". Andy4Labour. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  38. Walters, Sarah (19 May 2015). "The Courteeners back Andy Burnham for Labour leadership". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  39. "Charlie Condou: Why I am backing Andy Burnham for Labour leadership". PinkNews. 27 June 2015. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  40. Steve Coogan (14 August 2015). "Andy Burnham is Labour's best hope". Guardian. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  41. Eddie Izzard (3 September 2015). "Eddie Izzard on Twitter: "I'm voting for @AndyBurnhammp for Labour Party leader. If we don't win the centre of the country we're not going to win the next election"". Twitter.com.
  42. Smith, Mikey (5 July 2015). "Coronation Street's Sally Lindsay backs Andy Burnham for Labour leadership". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 6 July 2015.
  43. Dan Bloom (30 July 2015). "David Walliams judges Andy Burnham his favourite for Labour leader claiming he's the 'perfect choice'". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 31 July 2015.
  44. "Andy Burnham MUST be next Labour leader as he's the only Prime Minister-in-waiting". Daily Mirror. 13 August 2015.
  45. Nigel Nelson (8 August 2015). "Sunday People backs Andy Burnham as Labour leader – if he makes Yvette Cooper his deputy". Daily Mirror.
  46. "Proud to receive the nomination from Eastbourne CLP tonight". Twitter.com. Retrieved 3 July 2015.
  47. "Northern Ireland CLP Supports Andy Burnham MP". Labour Party in Northern Ireland website. 15 May 2015. Archived from the original on 3 July 2015. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  48. "Burnham picks up first trade union endorsement for leader". LabourList. 16 July 2015. Retrieved 16 July 2015.
  49. "Andy Burnham backed by workers' union to become leader of Labour Party". Liverpool Echo. 20 July 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  50. "MU endorses Burnham and Flint". Musicians' Union. 20 July 2015. Retrieved 29 July 2015.
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