The Government’s current “levelling up” agenda “will be dead” if Rishi Sunak wins the Tory leadership race said The Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham
His comments follow reports that Rishi Sunak has vowed to run the economy like Margaret Thatcher if he becomes the next prime minister, telling Tory leadership rivals: “You have to earn what you spend.”
Speaking to The Telegraph in his first campaign interview, the former chancellor likened Baroness Thatcher’s upbringing above her father’s grocery shop to his childhood helping in his mother’s pharmacy.
Countering claims that his refusal to promise immediate tax cuts shows he is not a true conservative, Mr Sunak said that, by prioritising inflation, he was following the Iron Lady’s economic approach more than his rivals.
“We will cut taxes and we will do it responsibly,” he said. That’s my economic approach. I would describe it as common sense Thatcherism. I believe that’s what she would have done.”
Burham as asked if Mr Sunak is a “socialist” – a label reportedly used by Jacob Rees-Mogg to describe him – Mr Burnham told Sky News: “No, certainly not. He is in the newspapers today saying that he will govern like Margaret Thatcher if he is elected leader.
“Margaret Thatcher laid the North of England low when she was in government so I think we could confidently say that levelling up will be dead if he is elected and continues to put that kind of approach forward.”
Burnham also described the Tory leadership campaign as ” a bit farcical” as candidates aren’t addressing the cost of living crisis or NHS services on black alert.
He has demanded a general election once a candidate has been selected by the Tory party.He told Sky News “The Tory Party feels like a party that wants to go into opposition… playing to the cultural war issues, & not actually addressing the things that are affecting people up & down the country… there has to be a general election.”.
