Burnham calls for a bold Labour debate on direction
Andy Burnham used a fringe event at the Labour party conference in Liverpool to issue another pointed reminder that Labour should not underestimate the peril it faces. Speaking at a session hosted by the Re:State think tank, the mayor of Greater Manchester said he was intent on launching a debate about direction and getting a plan to beat Reform UK, a task he framed as urgent as the party trails in the polls ahead of local elections in May and potential losses in Wales.
Burnham warned that Labour must avoid being “narrow and shallow” and pushed back against a climate of fear he said was stifling honest discussion about the party’s future. He stressed that the challenge they face was “right in front of their eyes”, noting that councillors, MSPs and MPs, including those in the Senedd, are preparing for elections in May 2026.
Framing the argument: how to beat Reform UK
“I want to launch a debate about direction and getting a plan to beat Reform,” Burnham declared, insisting that the party needed a compelling narrative that could connect with voters. He warned that those urging simplistic loyalty were underestimating “the peril the party is in” in next year’s elections and urged colleagues to engage honestly with Labour’s shortcomings rather than retreat from tough questions.
The remarks come amid a broader push at the conference for the PM to frame Labour’s dividing lines with Reform UK. While Burnham’s comments drew backing from many who want a candid, policy-led debate, they also sparked discomfort among some MPs who feel the party needs to balance internal introspection with a steady leadership and a clear path forward.
Reactions inside Labour: support, skepticism and a cautionary note
Several Labour MPs expressed mixed reactions. Some acknowledge the need for a more explicit strategy to appeal to voters who currently back Reform UK, while others fear that personal leadership tensions could overshadow policy discussions at a time when party unity is prized. The debate was sharpened by a contrasting voice from former cabinet minister Alan Johnson, who, on BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, urged caution about leadership comments and offered a personal anecdote about resisting moves to challenge the party leadership in the past.
Johnson recalled a 2009 moment when colleagues urged him to oppose Gordon Brown and offered his own maxim for navigating leadership talk: “Do what I did, go and find a television camera, stand in front of it and say: ‘I have no intention of standing against the elected leader of our country’.” The anecdote underscored the friction between ambition and party stability that continues to shape conversations at this year’s conference.
Keir Starmer himself sought to downplay the chatter around leadership, insisting he has a mandate for five years and arguing that “comments about leaders and leadership are part and parcel of being in politics”. He added that, while conference season naturally brings talk of leaders, it is “in the job description” for challenges to surface and be debated.
What this means for Labour’s strategy going into elections
The push for a serious debate about Labour’s direction aligns with a moment of electoral vulnerability. National polls place Reform UK ahead in some surveys, raising the prospect of losses in May’s local elections and potential shifts in devolved legislatures. Burnham’s framing of a debate about Labour’s future is, in his view, a tactical reply to those concerns: a narrative that can unite councillors, MSPs, MPs and the party’s grassroots around a shared plan to capture votes in regions where Reform UK is gaining traction.
While the party weighs its internal tensions, the broader question remains: can Labour present a credible, grounded program that addresses the concerns of voters who feel left behind while also maintaining a cohesive, stable leadership? Burnham’s call for an open, thorough discussion signals a willingness to test ideas and confront uncomfortable truths outside the echo chamber of party forums. The answer will unfold as the conference progresses and as Labour recalibrates its messaging ahead of elections that could redefine the country’s political landscape.
