Burnham: 'People in Britain can't afford a good life'

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. Burnham: 'People in Britain can't afford a good life'6 minutes ago Share Save Add as preferred on GoogleMike Sweeney ,Kevin Fitzpatrick , Radio ManchesterandJonny Humphries ,North West Watch Labour's Andy Burnham on Radio ManchesterGreater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has said national politics has reached a "dangerous place" where "people in this country cannot afford a good life". The Labour candidate for the Makerfield by-election next month told Radio Manchester Britain had been "on the wrong path for 40 years". Burnham was speaking in the first of a series of interviews with the major candidates for the poll, set to take place on Thursday 18 June.

Asked by listeners why he was potentially stepping away from his mayor role, he said: "I really believe that politics in this country is at a moment where we either change it or it really becomes quite, quite broken and people lose faith completely. "LIVE: Makerfield by-election interview with Labour's Andy BurnhamThe 56-year-old, who held senior cabinet positions in the Tony Blair and Gordon Brown governments, stepped away from Westminster politics in 2017. However, he announced his candidacy after sitting Labour MP for Makerfield, Josh Simons, resigned his seat to allow Burnham a chance to rejoin the Parliamentary party.

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Andy Burnham spoke in the first of a series of interviews with the major candidates for the Makerfield by-electionBurnham is widely expected to challenge Sir Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership - and become Prime Minister - if he can first convince voters in Makerfield. He told the he was proud of his record in Greater Manchester, but added: "There's only so much I can do from this role. ""If I want life here to be what it should be for the people of the communities in the Makerfield constituency, but more broadly across all of Greater Manchester, I know we need to change politics at the national level so we can change the economy at the national level and just make it work for people, make it life more affordable for people.

"Five parties have so far announced their candidates for the Makerfield by-election:Andy Burnham, the Labour PartyChris Kennedy, the Green PartyAlan "Howlin" Laud Hope, The Official Monster Raving Loony PartyRobert Kenyon, Reform UKRebecca Shepherd, Restore BritainMichael Winstanley, the Conservative PartyListen to the best of Radio Manchester on Sounds and follow Manchester on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.