Andy Burnham launches Makerfield byelection campaign with subtle Downing Street pitch

Andy Burnham has formally launched his campaign for the Makerfield byelection with a barely coded pitch for Downing Street, saying a vote for him to become the MP there was “a vote to change Labour”.

While not explicitly saying that he would seek to replace Keir Starmer, the Greater Manchester mayor used a speech to Labour MPs and activists in the constituency, followed by questions from the media , to lay out a series of national policy views, including on economy, immigration and electoral reform.

Asked if he would want Starmer to campaign locally for him, Burnham dodged the question, telling reporters only that “anyone who agrees with me” would be welcome.

While Burnham said he would commit to sticking by Labour’s manifesto pledges on spending and taxation, if he was prime minister he would reprioritise large sums of money, including devoting all of a £39bn fund for affordable housing to council homes rather than allocating any to private developers.

He reiterated his broad support for immigration changes spearheaded by Shabana Mahmood, the home secretary, but indicated there could be some changes, particularly on rules about indefinite leave to remain (ILR), saying he was aware that some Labour MPs had worries about this.

Burnham also committed any government he ran to promise a proportional electoral system in its next manifesto, while saying it was not practical to change the way people voted before the next general election.

“This is a change byelection,” Burnham said in his speech, held in the car park of a community sports club in Ashton-in-Makerfield, near Wigan. “British politics needs to change its tired old script and the people of Makerfield are helping us write one.”

Speaking to reporters afterwards, Burnham denied that this meant that a vote for him would effectively mean a vote to remove Keir Starmer, saying: “No, it’s not, because this is a byelection, and that’s what this contest is about, and those issues are issues for another time, and they are issues for members of parliament.”

Meanwhile there has been a row over Reform’s conduct in the battle for Makerfield, with the founder of a Wigan charity for adults with additional needs asking Nigel Farage to apologise after his entourage entered the premises unannounced in a manner the staff and the people they support found “intimidating and overwhelming”.

Gemma Crompton, director of The Hamlet, wrote in a letter to the Reform UK leader: “We are therefore requesting a formal apology regarding the way today’s visit was handled, alongside assurances that no other organisation supporting vulnerable people within the borough will experience a similar situation in future.”

She claimed Farage’s entourage had filmed and taken photographs without permission.

Burnham was present at the time, for a celebration of the people supported by the charity achieving their gold Duke of Edinburgh awards.

The Manchester mayor had been accused of a “spiky” response to a Daily Mail journalist who was part of the entourage.

The Mail piece claimed that Burnham “fumed” when approached in the cafe, saying: “You don’t go into a place like that unannounced. You’re out of order there.”

Burnham has supported The Hamlet throughout his time as mayor and there is a photograph of him on the front page of the charity’s website.

However, Crompton said: “At no point was today intended to be a political event or a platform for campaigning.” She added: “We do not want to be drawn into political campaigning or political division of any kind.”

The Reform MP Lee Anderson was part of Farage’s entourage and said they had visited the cafe at the venue spontaneously for a “cuppa” and to use the toilet.

He added: “I am confused as to why the lady sent the letter as she sat with us talking to us all about the cafe and the challenges it faces. She then asked for a selfie with Rob and Nigel and thanked us for the visit. We then left.”

Burnham’s hoped-for return to Westminster, facilitated after the Labour MP Josh Simons gave up the Makerfield seat to trigger a byelection, is likely to be followed by a challenge to Starmer, or moves to push him into stepping down, an idea Burnham did nothing to dispel.

He said: “I’m prepared to take that fight as high as I can go. I want to play whatever part I can in changing this party back to the party here people used to know, and the party that is solidly on the side of working-class community.”

He added: “I‘ve not done the usual thing of talking in code. I’ve said it plainly what I’m trying to do.”

Burnham answered questions on how he would hope to shape national policy, including the commitment to Labour’s fiscal rules.

He did say he would want to look in future at the idea of some sort of wealth tax – as raised this week by the former health secretary Wes Streeting, another likely leadership candidate – and added that he would want significant changes to council tax and land-based taxation more widely.

On migration, Burnham said he understood and had heard people’s concerns on the doorstep, and that while “the broad thrust of what [Mahmood] is doing is right”, there could be some changes.

This was particularly the case on ILR, he said. “I think the consultation needs to be real on that issue, because I know there have been concerns raised by members of parliament.”

Asked about a change to the electoral system, Burnham – who has long backed proportional representation – said: “I support electoral reform now. I know there are different ways you can do it, but I believe any move in that direction is going to be good, and I would want a commitment in the next Labour manifesto to introduce a proportional system.”

This would not, however, happen before an election, he added, saying parties needed to “honour manifestos”.