Burnham Attacks Starmer, Faces Labour Backlash

Andy Burnham has publicly criticised Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership as “factional” and “divisive” ahead of Labour’s conference in Liverpool, saying the party faces an “existential” threat and refusing to rule out a return to Westminster while suggesting he could mount a leadership challenge if he wins sufficient backing. He set out an interventionist platform calling for renationalisation of key utilities and rail, higher council tax on expensive homes, £40bn of borrowing for council housing, tax cuts for low earners and a 50p top rate for the highest earners. Senior Labour figures, including Housing Secretary Steve Reed and peer Thangam Debbonaire, have publicly urged Burnham to “pipe down,” while Chancellor Rachel Reeves and other allies warned his economic proposals risked unsettling markets, with some comparing potential fallout to Liz Truss’s 2022 mini‑Budget. The row has intensified debate inside Labour and among commentators about Starmer’s standing and heightened speculation of a possible leadership contest as the party meets in Liverpool.