Andy Burnham criticises ‘bankruptcy’ of Labour approach to campaigning

Greater Manchester mayor rekindles leadership speculation with speech addressing party's byelection loss

Andy Burnham has reignited hostilities with Keir Starmer's Labour leadership, criticising what he described as the bankruptcy" of the party's approach to campaigning, a week after it lost the previously safe seat of Gorton and Denton.

The mayor of Greater Manchester and former MP, regarded as a rival to Starmer, said Labour's campaigning style prevented it from connecting with non-Labour voters and other progressive parties, as he evoked the system of clipboard-wielding canvassers going door to door with records of previous Labour supporters.