Reconnecting Labour: the central theme to Andy Burnham’s campaign

by Jennifer Painter / @jenpainter

Andy Burnham’s letter announcing his entrance into the Labour leadership race has been published on Labour Uncut.

Burnham emphasises the need for Labour to ‘reconnect with young people’, stating that he will ask the public to fuel his ideas on the party’s future:

“If we can involve the public in this debate, they will feel a greater sense of ownership of the changes we make. That will help us be an effective Opposition and then an effective Government.

“What I bring to the contest is a passion for Labour: its values, its history, but, most importantly, its future. I want to ensure that people like me, wherever they are from and whatever their background, have the opportunities that I had. That’s why I joined 25 years ago and why I want to lead it now.

“I am proud of our record in Government. But we must learn lesson and move forward. The changing political landscape presents a huge opportunity for Labour. Together we can make Labour the unifying force for all those who want to live in a country with a fairer spread of health, wealth and life chances.”

Read the letter in full here.