Here’s a bold statement: Politicians shouldn’t be allowed to hide behind lies and spin, yet it’s a practice that seems all too common in the halls of Westminster. Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Manchester, made waves this week when he declared that insiders in the political sphere ‘don’t get a license to lie,’ following a heated row over his blocked candidacy in the upcoming Gorton and Denton byelection. But here’s where it gets controversial: Burnham didn’t just stop at calling out the culture of deception—he vowed to name and shame those who engage in it, no matter their position.
The drama began after the Labour Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) decided to prevent Burnham from running in the byelection, sparking a week of intense political backlash. During a candid phone-in with BBC Radio Manchester, Burnham revealed his frustration with the pervasive culture of political briefings, where insiders often ‘say what they like’ to the media, sometimes to smear the reputations of elected officials. And this is the part most people miss: these briefings aren’t just about scoring political points—they erode public trust in institutions and individuals alike.
Burnham’s anger was particularly directed at unnamed sources close to Keir Starmer, who allegedly lied about his chances of being approved by the NEC. According to Burnham, a Starmer ally claimed he had been warned ‘in no uncertain terms’ that his application would be refused. Downing Street denied this, but Burnham stood firm, using the incident as a prime example of the deceit he’s determined to combat.
He also referenced the ‘stop Wes’ briefings, where unnamed Downing Street sources warned Health Secretary Wes Streeting against challenging the Prime Minister’s leadership. ‘Some of these people are paid by the public purse,’ Burnham noted, ‘but in my view, anybody paid by the public purse does not get a license to lie.’
Despite the bitterness, Burnham insisted he wouldn’t let this sour his commitment to public service. ‘I’m not going to be bitter,’ he said. ‘I’ll be out there campaigning in the byelection, but I am going to call that one thing out.’
Interestingly, Burnham didn’t hesitate to give credit where it’s due. He praised Starmer for supporting the Hillsborough law, which mandates a ‘duty of candour’ for public servants—a principle Burnham clearly holds dear. However, he expressed disappointment that the Prime Minister didn’t speak with him before he applied to run for the Manchester seat, despite his request for a conversation.
‘I spoke to senior people in the party, including the Home Secretary,’ Burnham explained. ‘We had a great conversation, and I asked to speak to the Prime Minister to assure him I wasn’t coming in to undermine him or the government.’ Burnham emphasized that his intention was never to challenge the Prime Minister’s authority but to contribute solutions to issues holding Greater Manchester back.
When asked about his Monday conversation with Starmer, Burnham described it as ‘fair,’ adding, ‘We both said how we felt, and I was glad to have that chance.’ However, he admitted he would have preferred to speak with Starmer before the decision was made, believing it could have paved a more positive path for everyone involved.
Here’s the thought-provoking question: In a political landscape where spin and misinformation often reign, is Burnham’s call for accountability a necessary wake-up call, or is it an idealistic stance in a system that thrives on strategic ambiguity? Let’s discuss—do you think politicians should be held to a higher standard of truthfulness, or is deception an unavoidable part of the game? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
