Migration is a moral issue for Burnham – but is he trying to please everyone?

PM wants to tie Shabana Mahmood's hard line on borders to recognition of the value of migration, but he may need to shout his conviction

• How will UK immigration rules change under Shabana Mahmood's latest plans?

While out on the campaign trail in Makerfield, Andy Burnham gave a glimpse into where he might land on Labour's plans for immigration reform, which had already been decried by the left of the party as unfair while described on the right as electorally necessary.

Asked what he thought of Reform's attack on open borders Andy" - Nigel Farage's early attempt to define him as soft on migration - the then Manchester mayor dismissed the charge as ridiculous" and went on the defensive.