‘Andy Burnham can unite progressives and convey voters again who drifted from Labour’

‘If he does end up in Number 10, the country will get the same Andy Burnham I am privileged to call my friend’, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region Steve Rotheram writes

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I’ve known Andy Burnham for a long time. We’ve stood shoulder to shoulder through campaigns, rows with governments of different colours, and more than a few battles for the North.

On Monday night, amidst all the political frenzy and speculation, we managed to find time for a drink far from the madding crowd. It didn’t feel like I was chatting with someone who might be about to take the helm of a G7 country. It was just two mates putting the world to rights, catching up on family, football, politics, the state of the country, of battles won and those to come.

I found myself thinking that, for all the noise about what kind of Prime Minister Andy might be, he’s still the same person I first met nearly two decades ago.

For him, what matters has always been people, places and how power can be used to make life better. The truth is that a lot of people have fallen out of love with politics altogether. You can hardly blame them.

For years they’ve watched living standards stagnate, public services come under pressure and promises come and go without much changing in their day-to-day lives.

Meanwhile, politics has become dominated by people telling us who to blame. Migrants. Civil Servants. Benefits claimants. Young people. Older people. Pick a target and somebody will try to build a political movement around it. The grifter Nigel Farage has made a career out of it.

But I’m not convinced most people wake up in the morning looking for somebody to be angry with. I think they’re looking for reasons to feel optimistic. A decent job. A secure home. The chance for their kids and grandkids to do better than they did. The confidence that things are moving in the right direction.

Labour’s challenge is holding together the coalition needed to win and keep power. Reform’s rise reflects a frustration that is real. Dismissing that won’t make it disappear.

Andy gets that. He knows that people want politicians who listen – and then act. That’s why I think he could unite progressive voters, while also winning back people who have drifted away from us.

Not through the politics of gimmicks or grievance but by offering a commodity that has been in short supply for far too long: hope. And after putting the world to rights over a pint on Monday night, I came away more convinced of that than ever.

If he does end up in Number 10, the country will get the same Andy Burnham I am privileged to call my friend. And I reckon we’d be all the better for it.

‘Delivering Hillsborough Law isn’t finished yet’

There are some promises that carry more weight than others. For people in Liverpool, the Hillsborough Law is one of them.

The families of the 97 have spent decades fighting not just for the truth – but for justice too. They should never have had to endure what they did or had to fight so hard to uncover the truth.

Keir Starmer deserves real credit for bringing us closer than ever to making the Hillsborough Law a reality. But this isn’t a job that’s finished yet.

I know how much this means to Andy. He understands that this law is bigger than any single tragedy. It will forever rebalance the scales of justice and ensure no grieving family ever goes through the same struggle. A fitting legacy for the 97.

‘Grandparent the best job of my life’

Six weeks ago, we welcomed a beautiful new arrival to our family and I became a grandparent. I’ve become completely besotted.

People always tell you it’s different when it’s your grandchild. They were right. It’s given me a new perspective and a reminder of what really matters.

I’ve had many jobs over the years – Bricklayer, Builder, Councillor, MP, Mayor – but I’m assured that this is the best I’ll ever have!

‘How far can England go?’

I’ve watched football long enough to know better than to get carried away. But of course, we will anyway.

That’s the curse of being a football fan: hope gets the better of reality every time.

There’s real talent in this England side and, if they play with freedom, who knows how far they will go?