Andy Burnham and Wes Streeting have accused former Labour Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair of underestimating the impact of inequality in his critique of the government.
Sir Tony used a 5,600-word essay to argue the Labour government had “no coherent plan” for the country and had introduced policies that had held back business.
He urged Labour not to move to the left and to embrace the “radical centre” instead.
But Burnham and Streeting – both considered potential Labour leadership challengers to Sir Keir Starmer – suggested Sir Tony had overlooked how inequality is shaping modern politics.
Burnham, who is widely expected to challenge Sir Keir if he wins a by-election next month, told the Observer that Sir Tony “doesn’t mention inequality once” in his essay.
“If you don’t get how that’s driving politics now, if you are not rooting your analysis in the fact that people are unable to live and that things that were taken for granted are no longer affordable, then you are not understanding what’s going on,” said the mayor of Greater Manchester.
Burnham is seeking to become an MP again on 18 June in the Makerfield by-election, on the outskirts of Wigan, in what is expected to be a closely-fought contest with Reform UK’s Robert Kenyon.
Streeting, a former health secretary, has also said he will stand if there is a leadership contest – but Prime Minister Sir Keir has said he will not walk away from the top job.
