Andy Burnham, widely seen as a potential future prime minister, has stated his intention to advocate for the abolition of the UK's 'first past the post' voting system for general elections. He aims to make electoral reform a commitment in the Labour Party's next manifesto. Burnham, who recently won the Makerfield by-election, voiced his support for proportional representation, asserting that it would foster a more collaborative political environment.
This stance was articulated during an 'Ask Me Anything' session on the social media platform Reddit, where Burnham answered a selection of questions. However, his approach drew criticism from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who accused him of "hiding from scrutiny" by opting for less challenging questions online. Badenoch contrasted this with her own media engagements, stating she had been answering press questions in Yorkshire while Burnham was on Reddit.
"You're going to be Prime Minister soon so it's time to start acting like one," Badenoch commented, urging Burnham to face a "proper press conference." Burnham acknowledged this as a "fair challenge" but pointed to his recent engagement with 74,000 members of the public in Makerfield.
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During the Reddit session, Burnham also affirmed his commitment to maintaining the state pension triple lock, stating it was important for the manifesto commitment to stand. He also indicated plans to build upon Sir Keir Starmer's efforts to reset relations with the European Union and ruled out calling a snap general election, intending to serve the full term outlined in the 2024 manifesto.
Further policy points addressed included ensuring the Defence Investment Plan is fully funded, maintaining support for Ukraine, and negotiating return agreements for rejected asylum seekers. Burnham also confirmed he would seek to negotiate a more ambitious trade agreement with the EU.
The Labour Party's 2022 conference supported a move towards proportional representation, though the 2024 manifesto focused on extending voting rights to 16 and 17-year-olds and reforming the House of Lords. Burnham's push for electoral reform signals a potential shift in the party's constitutional agenda should he assume leadership.
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