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Andy Burnham urges Labour to ‘re-arm’ for Kemi Badenoch comeback
Andy Burnham has urged Labour to prepare for a possible Conservative recovery under Kemi Badenoch, as Downing Street shifts more attention towards the Tories ahead of the next general election. The change matters because Labour has focused heavily on Reform and the Greens, while some MPs fear it could underestimate a renewed threat from its traditional opponent.
More in Common polling put the Conservatives at 25% last week, up from 18% after they won 24% at the last election. Labour is understood to be planning to devote more resources to challenging the Tories from January, ahead of next May’s elections. Possible approaches include highlighting the prospect of a Conservative-Reform pact and drawing attention to the wider Conservative party, whose support remains weaker than Badenoch’s personal ratings suggest.
In short
- Burnham wants Labour to prepare for a Conservative comeback.
- More in Common puts the Tories at 25%.
- Labour plans to increase its focus on them from January.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Labour should prepare for a Conservative recovery because recent polling suggests the party may be regaining support, and Badenoch’s personal ratings could translate into a stronger challenge. Giving the Tories more attention would help Labour avoid complacency, test its arguments against its traditional opponent and make voters aware of the possible consequences of closer Conservative-Reform cooperation.
The case against
Shifting resources towards the Conservatives could distract Labour from Reform and the Greens, which it has prioritised as immediate electoral challenges. A rise in one poll and Badenoch’s personal ratings may not indicate a durable recovery, particularly while the wider Conservative party remains less popular; treating the Tories as a resurgent threat too soon could waste campaign effort.
Explained simply
Labour and the Conservatives are the UK’s two long-established political parties, and they have alternated in government for much of the post-war period. Labour is led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer; Kemi Badenoch leads the Conservatives, who lost office at the last general election.
Andy Burnham is Labour’s mayor of Greater Manchester and a prominent figure in the party. The next general election is when voters will choose a new government, while elections next May will test support for parties in local and devolved contests.
The Conservatives’ place in the contest matters to Labour because votes can shift between parties, affecting who wins seats and may govern. Reform UK and the Green Party are also competing for support, so Labour’s attention to each opponent could shape its campaigning.
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