Andy Burnham has told GB News the Makerfield by-election will be a “turning point for British politics”.
Speaking to Chief Political Correspondent Katherine Forster, the Manchester Mayor also insisted he “gets it” on immigration and will work to rebuild public trust on the issue.
“I’m standing before the people of Makerfield. I think this is a really necessary moment in British politics,” Mr Burnham said.
“I know they’ll experience inconvenience over the next four weeks, but I do feel that this by-election could be a turning point for British politics.”
GB News’ Chief Political Correspondent Katherine Forster asked Mr Burnham: “Trust in politics is on the floor. People have had so many broken promises. None more so than on immigration control and reducing the numbers.
“Can you reassure our viewers that you get it and that you will support Shabana Mahmood’s measures designed to tackle and control the levels of migration?”
Mr Burnham responded: “I do get it. And I’ve already heard that concern on doorsteps. Many doorsteps in this first week.”
Andy Burnham told GB News that the Makerfield by-election will be a ‘turning point for British politics’
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GB NEWS
“Yesterday’s figures show that net migration is down, and it’s down significantly,” he added, referencing new ONS data showing net migration had been halved.
Mr Burnham went on to say: “So I think it’s time to look now at what this government is doing on migration. More to be done for sure.
“I’ve indicated support for some issues still subject to consultation. But I’ve said, you know, the thrust of what she’s doing is right.
“It’s important that we get confidence back.”
The Manchester Mayor said Labour ‘not been good enough’ under Keir Starmer
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GETTY
“The public here is feeling that we haven’t got control over these things. So I 100 per cent understand what you’re saying.I know a lot of GB news viewers will have those feelings. We do need to get the system under control.
“But I think the figures that came yesterday show that it is becoming more and more under control.”
Mr Burnham was speaking to GB News at his campaign launch event that the Labour Government had “not been good enough”.
He was confirmed as the party’s candidate last week after Labour’s ruling body gave him the thumbs up to run.
Following a disastrous set of election losses for the party at the start of the month, the Greater Manchester Mayor declared: “We have not been good enough.
“A vote for me in this by-election is a vote to change Labour. It is a vote to give the people in these communities back the party they used to know.
“A party that is solidly on the side of working class people and working class communities.”
“It needs a new script and over the next four weeks the people of Makerfield are going to write that script, and it’s great that they’re going to get that chance,” he added, speaking before cheering supporters.