Andy Burnham has criticized Keir Starmer once again, this time expressing his opinion that it is not the appropriate moment to introduce digital ID cards. The Greater Manchester Mayor has been making waves at the Labour Party’s annual conference by questioning the Government’s decisions, fueling speculation that he could potentially be a frontrunner to succeed Mr. Starmer in the future.
During an event organized by the Guardian Politics podcast live, Mr. Burnham was asked about his stance on digital ID, to which he responded, “Not now.” He also refrained from definitively addressing inquiries about whether he planned to relinquish his mayoral position amid rumors of his interest in running for a parliamentary seat with aspirations to lead the Labour Party.
Although Mr. Burnham refused to disclose any discussions with MPs regarding a potential leadership bid, he emphasized that without a parliamentary presence, launching a leadership campaign was not feasible for him. His criticism of digital ID cards aligns with his recent pattern of stirring controversy at the conference. The policy introduced by Mr. Starmer, dubbed “BritCards,” although not mandatory, will be required for all adults seeking employment or housing in the UK to streamline the verification of their right to reside and work in the country.
The proposed digital IDs, intended to be stored on smartphones through GOV.UK’s wallet app, would be cross-referenced against a central database of individuals authorized to work and live in the UK. At the same event, Mr. Burnham urged the Government to reconsider the two-child benefit limit, advocate for land value taxation and council tax reforms, and reassess the tax system’s balance to address what he perceives as an imbalance between taxing work and under-taxing wealth and assets.
In response to critiques on his economic proposals, including suggesting a 50p top rate of income tax and advocating for tax relief for lower earners while reducing reliance on foreign borrowing, Mr. Burnham defended his financial stewardship in Greater Manchester. He emphasized that his actions in the role demonstrated prudent financial management, refuting claims of incompetence.
While speaking at the event, Mr. Burnham expressed his long-term hope for the UK to rejoin the European Union, citing the benefits of being part of larger unions for prosperity. He also raised concerns about a perceived atmosphere of fear within the Labour Party that stifles constructive debates on governmental direction.
Mr. Burnham highlighted instances where Labour MPs faced repercussions for defending disability benefits or opposing the two-child benefit cap, directly challenging Keir Starmer on the need for more open dialogue within the party. He clarified that his interventions aimed to stimulate discussions on the party’s trajectory rather than solely harboring leadership ambitions.