‘I wouldn’t flinch’: Burnham on social care, markets, Brexit – and the prospect of a general election

Key points

• Exclusive Greater Manchester mayor sets out his priorities before Makerfield byelection – and what might happen after the vote Andy Burnham has signalled he would begin transforming England’s broken social care system this year if he became prime minister, accusing Westminster of “flinching away” from tackling difficult policy problems.
• The Greater Manchester mayor said politicians must be willing to take on “the weight of the system” that stood in the way of radical change, as he began to set out his prospectus for government if he won the Makerfield byelection.
• Said Labour should be a broad church with more government ministers from the left of the party, but Jeremy Corbyn should not be allowed back in.
• Signalled there would be no snap election if he replaced Keir Starmer, but defended himself from criticism over a shadow leadership campaign.
• Defended his comments that politicians should not be “in hock” to the...