Long-term allies of Andy Burnham on the Labour left have urged him to appoint a cabinet which “properly represents our party’s tradition as a broad church, not a boys’ club”. In a statement released today, the interim council of Mainstream – the soft left parliamentary group backed by Burnham – called on the new Labour leader to appoint a “progressive chancellor with vision, values and a record of delivering structural change”. While the statement does not mention him by name, insiders confirmed to the NS that the group is clear that Ed Miliband must be chancellor.
The push comes as Labour’s internal tensions are laid bare against a backdrop of past insults from within the party. During Starmer’s final PMQs on Wednesday, Kemi Badenoch desisted from attacking, delivering a warm and twinkly-eyed tribute to the leader on his way to the back benches instead. Starmer said some nice things in return, and everyone chuckled fondly. It was as if she had never called him two-tier Kier, or ever said that Labour was the party of paedo defenders. Minutes from an early exit, Starmer was magnanimous about his opponent’s hard tackles, saying “it has to be robust — that is the way politics is done”.
“Burnham’s left-wing allies call for Ed Miliband as chancellor; resurfaced tweets show Lammy and Phillips insulting Ann Widdecombe.”
Meanwhile, old tweets from Labour MPs have resurfaced. David Lammy wrote in 2019 that Ann Widdecombe was “absolutely poisonous” and a “bigot”; Jess Phillips in 2010 urged readers to vote the “little fascist beast” off Strictly. As Lammy paid solemn homage to Widdecombe after last week’s horrific events, his words rang hollow. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson – branded a “spiteful class warrior” by Badenoch during the same session – has been making capital out of her big moment, even posing with the phrase emblazoned on a t-shirt.
