The Burnham message

Andy Burnham’s interview in The Times today lays down several markers. He praises Len McCluskey, declares that trade union funding is best for Labour, slates Alan Milburn, criticises Peter Mandelson for being relaxed about people getting filthy rich and distances himself from the Blairite mantra that ‘what matters is what works.’ It will, to put it mildly, do nothing to discourage speculation that he is preparing to run for the leadership on a left-wing ticket if Labour loses the election.

To be fair, Burnham is frank in this interview that he has changed his mind on various subjects. As he puts it,

‘There was a period in the 80s and 90s and the first decade of this century when people said the market has the answer to everything and I honestly don’t think it has . . . I lived through those years. I’ve used opposition for its proper purpose. I’ve really reflected.”

But what is most striking is his willingness to distance himself from the Blairite mantra that ‘what matters is what works’ which his deputy Liz Kendall recently reaffirmed her belief in. When asked about it, he replies, ‘Maybe there is a difference here. What works in my view is the public NHS. It’s worked for 67 years.”

Now, Burnham dismisses in this interview the idea that he is positioning himself for a leadership bid. But it is hard to ignore the fact that he has just ticked an awful lot of boxes for those looking for a left-wing candidate in the event of a Labour leadership contest