Burnham launches with pledge to recreate the People’s Party

By Alex Smith / @alexsmith1982

Andy Burnham launched his leadership campaign today somewhat differently to how the other candidates have done so far – with an article in the Mirror.

With David Miliband, Ed Miliband, Ed Balls and John McDonnell and now Diane Abbott all in the race, Burnham will seek to highlight his roots in the traditional Labour communities. His campaign motto is “Re-connecting Labour”.

Burnham writes:

“We must become a new kind of party that involves and consults its members on a daily basis – truly a People’s Party – and reduces the influence of small elites at the top. We should bring down the final curtain on the era of stage-management in politics, making our party conference a forum for real debate and drama once again. And we should open up to more people – £39-a-year is too much to ask people to join Labour. We have to find a way of making members matter more, and involve our supporters, too.I am a team player, I’ve never had time for factions. That’s why I can help make Labour welcoming and unifying, a voice for all people who want to get on in life but also want to live in a country fair to all – with a more even spread of health, wealth and life chances.”

Burnham has also launched his campaign website, Andy4Leader, although it is really only a holding page for email capture:

Read Burnham’s full Mirror article here.