Parliamentary sketchwriter Quentin Letts has criticized the handling of a recent speech by Andy Burnham in Manchester, alleging that his own access was denied and that journalists present were restricted and "mocked for their curiosity." Letts, who claims to have sketched every prime minister since James Callaghan with limited prior issue, stated that his requests for accreditation to the event at the People's History Museum were repeatedly denied.
Letts characterized the event as a "private salon" attended by Labour figures, rather than an open forum for a potential future prime minister to outline policy. He noted that reporters were positioned at the "very back of the room." The speech itself, delivered by Burnham, was described by Letts as "squidgy, everything soft and fluttery," with platitudes such as "problem-solving, not point-scoring" and "long term, not short term." Letts also pointed out that Burnham reportedly had to repeat his closing sentence, "Good growth in every postcode. Hope in every heart," after an initial misstatement.
The museum where the speech was held styles itself as "the national museum of democracy," a description Letts contrasted with what he perceived as a lack of media scrutiny during the event. He suggested that Burnham's team might be attempting to "hide" something, implying a lack of substance behind the Labour figure's public persona.
