News / Politics

Ex-UK deputy PM backs Burnham for Labour

Sunday, 24 May 2015 2:55 PM [ Last Update: Sunday, 24 May 2015 2:55 PM ]

File photo of Andy Burnham

Following Labour’s crushing defeat in the UK general election on May 7, now the race for the party leadership is heating up with Andy Burnham becoming the current favourite who gains the support of Ex-PM deputy John Prescott.

The Labour party is still reeling after their defeat in the recent general election. The Conservatives won an overall majority with Labour party losing more seats since the last general election.

The poor show led to the resignation of the then Labour leader Ed Miliband, leading to an intriguing race for the new Labour leader.

Many have thrown their names into the fray, but then quickly backed out, the most notable being Chuka Umana.

Now one of the frontrunners, Andy Burnham has the backing of the former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott. Prescott who now sits in the House of Lords said Burnham had one thing all leaders crave which is the human touch.

Prescott drew parallels with Burnham and Blair and wrote, "He spent 11 years as an MP. In that time he learned his brief, gained the experience, handled the media and won the public's trust with an overwhelming landslide. I have seen a lot of those skills and qualities in Andy Burnham during his 13 years as an MP. Many people talk about aspiration but Andy is a living example - a working-class lad from Liverpool who went to a comprehensive and got a place at Cambridge University. I've seen him in small groups and big meetings. People instantly warm to the guy. He's a family man who loves his football."

This is while Harriet Harman is currently heading the Labour Party, but has ruled herself out of running. The debate within the Labour party is what direction the party should go in after the humiliating loss to the Conservatives. Prescott wrote, "We need someone to lead Now Labour. That's why I'm backing Andy to be our leader. To unify our party, to lead our country and put our traditional values in a modern setting."

MW/GHN

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