Is Andy Burnham anti-London? Four things Labour leadership hopeful has said about the capital

News | Politics Is Andy Burnham anti-London? Four things Labour leadership hopeful has said about the capital The Mayor of Manchester has previously claimed that northerners can ‘face discrimination’ in London Rachael Burford, Chief Political Correspondent @RachaelBurford2 minutes ago COMMENTS Andy Burnham has repeatedly faced accusations that he is anti-London. During his almost ten-year tenure as Mayor of Greater Manchester he has suggested his region gets overlooked for investment in favour of the capital and that northerners “face discrimination” in the city. Mr Burnham is favourite to win the Makerfield by-election on Thursday and return to parliament, where he is expected to launch a leadership challenge to Sir Keir Starmer. Since May 2015 when Harriet Harman (then Camberwell and Peckham MP) was installed as acting Labour leader, the party has been led a London constituency. Andy Burnham could challenge Sir Keir Starmer for the keys to No 10 if he wins a return to Westminster PA Wire Harold Wilson, from Huddersfield, is the only Labour prime minister born in the north. The city has been described as "the new Red Wall", with Labour winning 59 of the capital's 75 constituencies at the 2024 general election. This dominance was challenged at the local elections last month when Sir Keir Starmer’s lost control of half the London councils it represented amid the surge of the Green Party. The loss of eleven London town halls, along with hundreds of councillors in other parts of England, plummeted Sir Keir’s leadership into jeopardy with a number of Labour MPs breaking rank to call on the Prime Minister to quit. Both Mr Burnham and former health secretary and Ilford North MP Wes Streeting have said they would stand in a fight to replace the PM, but neither have confirmed whether they would trigger such a contest. Here is what Mr Burnham has previously said about the capital. ‘Fury’ over transport spending Mr Burnham has frequently pointed out what he sees as disparity between the way the north is funded compared to London and the south, particularly when it comes to transport. He hit out at projects, such as Crossrail, being approved for the capital while northern schemes faced cutbacks and delays. Mr Burnham is expected to win this week’s by-election PA Wire The government should not underestimate "the fury" people in the north feel when they hear transport plans for their area have been changed, while Crossrail 2 was announced in London, he said in 2017.