Response to Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s speech

Commenting on the impact of Andy Burnham’s Labour Party conference speech, Dr Hannah Bunting, co-director of the University of Exeter’s Elections Centre, said:

“Burnham’s first conference speech as prime minister certainly has people talking. One thing I’m yet to see is a comprehensive Liberal Democrat reaction. Three of the many key themes in Burnham’s speech speak directly to LibDem policies: social care was Ed Davey’s main campaign message at the last election, electoral reform has long been their issue, and so has keeping or fostering closer ties with the EU post-Brexit referendum.

“Labour are either making a deliberate move to win over the many Lib Dem supporters from the South — who are arguably easier to reach than Green or Reform voters — or it’s an added bonus that these new announcements have widespread appeal.

“Either way, it does leave the Liberal Democrats with some difficult choices to reconcile. After their somewhat underwhelming party conference last week, they’re faced with either supporting the Labour policies and therefore not distinguishing themselves as a party, or opposing them and contradicting many of their long term promises. That might be why Ed Davey’s letter to the prime minister, sent shortly after his conference speech ended, focused most on the triple lock — the other aspects may need a longer introspection.”