Ed Miliband won back “traditional supporters”, says Burnham

Labour must combine Tony Blair’s appeal to middle-income voters with Ed Miliband’s ability to win over “traditional supporters” in order to win again, according to Andy Burnham. In a piece for the Observer today, the leadership hopeful says the contest so far has been too negative.

He reveals he has planned out five major speeches about Labour’s future, starting on Monday with his vision for education:

“Facing up to our weaknesses is essential. But it has given the leadership debate a negative feel. The time has come to lift people with a bigger vision. That is what I will do, starting on Monday, with the first of five speeches putting my stamp on the party.”

The Shadow Health Secretary writes that the purpose of the modern Labour Party is “to help everyone get on” and describes the education system’s focus on universities as “one of this country’s greatest postwar public policy failures.” “The best universities are still dominated by the wealthiest families,” says Burnham, “And the options for those not on the university route are still seen as second-class.”

In tomorrow’s speech, he will set out a plan for a “revolution” in technical education:

“I will take Labour out of the “Westminster bubble” and I start on Monday with a plan for a revolution in technical education. The best way to raise standards in all schools is to give all children hope and something to aim for. I want apprenticeships to have the same prestige as university places and young people given the same help to access them.”

He accepts that under Ed Miliband, Labour did not do enough to attract support from “people in the middle”, while “Tony Blair had a message that resonated with them”. However, he champions some of Miliband’s electoral appeal to, writing that “Ed Miliband won back traditional supporters”.