Andy Burham suffered a massive blow on GB News just hours after he arrived at Westminster. On Tuesday morning (June 23), Ellie Costello and Alexander Armstrong returned to the airwaves to discuss the biggest stories hitting the headlines. It didn’t take long for things to turn political as they discussed the former Mayor of Manchester’s rise to power following Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation on Monday (June 22).

It comes after the ‘King of the North’ stormed to victory in the Makersfield by-election last week. Today, the politician is returning to Westminster for the first time since 2017. But the Labour MP suffered a huge blow just minutes into the GB News breakfast show, as morning guest Fraser Myers predicted what policies Mr Burnham’s administration would champion in office.

He began by discussing Starmer’s fall from grace and his controversial resignation speech outside Downing Street. The deputy editor of Spiked Online explained: “It was an absolutely extraordinary day.

“We had the Prime Minister resigning, finally falling on his sword after many, many weeks of people telling him to go, particularly after those disastrous local election results last month. He tried to list his achievements, but I thought it was quite a dishonest speech if I’m honest with you.

“I think it was a typical Keir Starmer speech in its dishonesty. I don’t think he’ll be missed. I think he was probably one of the least honest and least competent leaders of our generation, and lots of our Prime Ministers are having shorter and shorter terms. Lots of people will say that means the country is ungovernable, but I don’t think it is.

“I think the country deserves a better quality of leader, and they’re not getting it, and I don’t think they’ll get it from Andy Burnham, who has many of the traits of Keir Starmer.” Ellie went on to press the presenter about whether Mr Burnham’s “hero’s welcome” to Westminster on Monday was justified.

She argued: “He’s had this hero’s welcome yesterday at Westminster with 200 MPs crowding in for a selfie with him. Do you think we’re going to see a coronation, or would you like to see a contest?” The journalist replied: “I suspect we will get a coronation, but you’re right to describe it as a hero’s welcome.

“All of the news channels are following his train down from Manchester to London Euston. Lots of people have likened it to [Vladimir] Lenin at Finland Station in Moscow ahead of the Russian Revolution. I think Andy Burnham has more of the politics of John Lennon, the slightly airy-fairy soft left-type politics, rather than a hard left figure.

“But still, you can see the wheels are in motion to give him the coronation. There are some leadership contenders popping up, so Al Carns has expressed interest in running. Darren Jones, the chief executive, has expressed interest in running, but I think they have absolutely no hope whatsoever.”

It didn’t take long before viewers flocked to X – formerly known as Twitter – to share their thoughts on Mr Burnham’s political successes online. One user penned: “Inheriting a manifesto he wasn’t elected on and knows is neither appropriate nor deliverable is a classic hospital pass. I suspect even Andy Burnham would prefer a general election…”

Another agreed: “Andy Burnham becoming PM without a leadership contest & with very little scrutiny on where he stands on a range of issues seems like a recipe for disaster further down the road. It wouldn’t surprise me if he’s ousted before the next general election.”

A third fumed: “It’s not democracy if Andy Burnham gets to walk straight into office. That will be shown as a massive f*** you to the British people. Call a general election now. British hidden hand politics are starting to be revealed. Watch.”