Burnham and Streeting accuse Blair of ignoring inequality as they hit back at ex-PM

Andy Burnham and Wes Streeting have publicly challenged former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair’s recent critique of the Labour government, accusing him of overlooking the central issue of inequality in his analysis. Blair’s lengthy essay argued that Labour lacks a coherent plan and has pursued policies detrimental to business, urging the party to avoid shifting left and instead embrace a "radical centre." However, Burnham and Streeting, both seen as potential rivals to current Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, contend that Blair’s failure to address inequality undermines his critique and misses the core driver of contemporary political dynamics. Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester and a likely Labour candidate in the upcoming Makerfield by-election, emphasised that Blair’s essay does not mention inequality once, despite its profound influence on public sentiment and political behaviour. He argued that understanding the economic struggles faced by many is essential to grasping the current political landscape. Streeting, a former health secretary, echoed this view in a Guardian article, describing Blair’s intervention as weak for treating inequality as a peripheral issue rather than a fundamental cause of social and democratic fractures in Britain. He warned that growing resentment stems from perceptions that the system no longer rewards effort fairly, and that the centre-left must address this to counter populism effectively. Both Burnham and Streeting’s critiques highlight a broader debate within Labour about the party’s direction and priorities ahead of potential leadership challenges. Burnham is preparing for a tightly contested by-election against Reform UK’s Robert Kenyon, while Streeting has indicated he would stand if a leadership contest arises, though Starmer has stated he intends to remain in post. Blair, meanwhile, defended his record and criticised Burnham’s claim that Britain has been on the wrong path for four decades, a period that includes Blair’s own premiership. The exchange underscores ongoing tensions within Labour over how to respond to economic inequality and political discontent in a rapidly changing social and technological environment.