Working to make government more effective

Working to make government more effective

Andy Burnham speaks to supporters after winning the Makerfield by-election
Podcast

Burnham v Starmer: The King of the North heads South

The Guardian's Rafael Behr joins the podcast team to discuss what a PM Andy Burnham would mean for the way Britain is governed.

As Andy Burnham returns to parliament after winning the Makerfield by-election, the Guardian's Rafael Behr joins the podcast team to discuss a huge week for British politics.

How should the prime minister – who insists he would compete in any leadership contest – respond? What does this period of volatility mean for how government works? And what would a prime minister Andy Burnham mean for the way Britain is governed?

What we talked about in this episode

People featured in this episode

Topic
Parliament and the constitution Ministers
Keywords
Leadership election General election Political parties
Political party
Labour
Position
Prime minister
Administration
Starmer government
Department
Number 10
Public figures
Andy Burnham
Publisher
Institute for Government

Related content

12 JUN 2026 Podcast

The way you Makerfield

More in Common's Luke Tryl joins the podcast from Makerfield to discuss how this peculiar by-election is shaping how voters are thinking.

28 MAY 2026 Podcast

The Blair Necessities

IfG senior fellow Henry Hill joins the podcast team to explore Tony Blair's essay on Labour's future and Danny Kruger's blueprint for government.