Burnham trades BLT banter for Bee Network pitch

Andy Burnham’s favourite boozer and go-to meal deal were among the more light-hearted revelations tonight as he took part in an online ‘ask me anything’ chat with voters in Makerfield ahead of the up-coming by election. The mayor of Greater Manchester also vowed to bring the Ryder Cup to Bolton and trumpeted his work improving transport across Greater Manchester as he continues his campaign to replace Josh Simons, who stepped down as MP to pave the way for Mr Burnham to challenge Prime Minister Keir

Starmer for leadership of the Labour party. Mr Burnham, a former Labour minister and MP for Leigh, is being challenged by Reform UK’s ‘plucky plumber’ Rob Kenyon among others as campaigning hots up ahead of the vote a fortnight from today. Click here for our dedicated Makerfield by-election newsletter with exclusive interviews and analysis His latest campaign move took him the Reddit website’s Wigan page where he took part in an ‘AMA’, where people could ‘ask me anything’ anonymously. Many of his answers sought to

persuade people about what he said was his proudest achievement in Greater Manchester, improving transport and particularly the Bee Network. But there were some other more personal revelations amid all the politics, especially when one person asked him for his ‘go to meal deal’. “Easy: BLT, San Pellegrino, and salt-and-vinegar crisps,” said Mr Burnham, putting him at odds with Tory leader Kemi Badenoch who has famously said lunch is ‘for wimps’ but if she’s really hungry she’ll have steak brought to her. Mr Burnham’s choice

appears humble by comparison, although San Pellegrino is perhaps a tad less humble as a premium, flavoured mineral water. It’s hardly a can of Fanta. The campaign has been littered with press conferences and photocalls in pubs and, when asked what his ‘go-to place in Wigan for a proper pint’, the mayor was particularly effusive. He answered: “Queen Anne is my local, and I’ve been spending a lot of time in the Holts Arms in Orrell lately. However, I defy anyone to find a better

pint of Guinness in Wigan borough than at the Brian Boru in Ashton , the oldest Irish club in the UK!” He finished with a jolly: “Cheers, Andy.” Asked for any prediction he could make make for Greater Manchester which ‘people would laugh at’, Mr Burnham was unequivocal: “The Ryder Cup in Greater Manchester (Bolton) in 2035! Believe me, it’s coming!” As mayor he’s previously announced a funding package, with a focus on infrastructure around a new golf course, to support the bid to host

the event in Bolton in 2035, including a new £70m M61-M6 link road. He also set out plans to reduce the huge number of young people not in work or education, saying he would extend nationwide a commitment he made for Greater Manchester to provide a 45-day work placement for teens. “We must not accept a world where young people in their twenties are stuck on benefits and that means much more meaningful intervention earlier in their lives,” he wrote. Join our new Makerfield by-election

WhatsApp community by clicking this link for the latest news. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice . Another poster praised the ‘great stuff’ the mayor is said to have achieved in Greater Manchester but he pressed Mr Burnham on his proudest achievement in Wigan. He answered: “The Bee Network is my

biggest achievement across all Greater Manchester boroughs. I think Our Pass, free bus travel for 16 to 18-year-olds, is particularly valuable for young people in Wigan borough because of the distance some have to travel to college. “In terms of physical infrastructure, I am proud of the new Wigan Bus Interchange and the fact that this week we marked the start of work to make Hindley train station fully accessible. Asked if he would consider making transport free for all, he answered: “In an ideal

world, I would like to cut the cost of public transport as low as possible. I have made it free for 16-18-year-olds and recently removed the 9.30am restriction on older and disabled people’s bus passes. I will try to keep the £2 capped bus fare for as long as I possibly can. Low-cost or free public transport is, in my view, a brilliant way to get people back to work and connect communities.” He also emphasised an announcement he made earlier in the day to

cut business rates for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) including for, naturally, pubs. He wrote: “It is certainly true that the government needs to listen much more to the voice of small businesses. In response to what I have heard in this campaign, I today announced a firm commitment to cut business rates for pubs and remove high street businesses from them altogether by increasing them for large warehouses. I appreciate this isn’t the be all and end all, but it is a start.

The voice of large corporations is certainly heard more in Westminster than SMEs and perhaps that explains why a much lower percentage of their turnover goes on business rates. Small businesses are the heartbeat of the economy and we need to act to support them before we start to lose them.”

Andy Burnham, Makerfield by-election, Reddit AMA, Bee Network, Our Pass, free bus travel, Ryder Cup 2035 Bolton, £70m M61-M6 link road, Hindley train station, Wigan Bus Interchange, business rates for pubs, SMEs