EXCLUSIVE: Speaking on the Daily Expresso, Conservative MP Esther McVey described a ploy by the prime minister in waiting to radically alter British politics.
Andy Burnham is reportedly set to wage war on the right (Image: Getty)
Andy Burnham and his team are preparing an election plot to destroy the right of British politics, it has been claimed.
The soft-left Labour MP, who was sworn into parliament on Monday, is widely expected to replace Sir Keir Starmer as prime minister following his resignation.
A lack of challengers is likely to mean Burnham will assume the Labour leadership without going through an election process, with several high-profile members of the party already declaring that they will not stand.
Speaking on the latest episode of the Daily Expresso, Conservative MP Esther McVey expressed her scepticism that the newly elected Makerfield MP would be able to transform his party’s dire poll ratings despite his personal popularity.
She said: “But there’s two things, and this is what I hear from his team, from Andy Burnham’s team, and some who were close to him.
‘Burnham coming for the right’ McVey warned (Image: -)
“Their point of reference is Brown bottling it and not winning. The conservative point of reference is Theresa May calling it when she shouldn’t. So they’re saying, oh, he should and he would win.
“Now the odds are he’s not gonna get any more than 170 MPs, which they’ve got a massive majority. So it’s a lot he’s given up.
“He could be a prime minister for three years, but he’s going to go.”
Little is known of Burnham’s approach to government, with the former Health Secretary having adapted his politics to serve under three markedly different Labour leaders — Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and Jeremy Corbyn.
Whilst it is unclear what a Britain under Burnham’s leadership might look like, Ms McVey warned that the prime minister elect does have a plan to destroy the right of British politics in a future general election.
The MP for Tatton added: “Now this is a darker side, which I’m hearing from the far left. Of which, you know, Andy Burnham does oscillate. He was a Corbynista. He was Corbynite. He supports him, right?
“And they’re saying, we think now is the time to crush the right. They see Reform faltering in the polls.
“They see the conservatives doing better under Kemi Badenoch’s leadership, but not good enough. A split in the right with Rupert Lowe as well, and Restore. So they think now’s the time.
