'I am not going to drink the Kool-Aid when it comes to Andy Burnham'
Sir Michael Ellis has dismissed Andy Burnham’s first comments to the media since becoming the presumptive successor to Sir Keir Starmer as “hot air waffle”.
Speaking to GB News, the former Attorney General said Mr Burnham was facing an “uphill battle” to convince voters he is ready to lead the country.
Mr Burnham said he was “excited” when asked by reporters if he was ready to take on the role of Prime Minister.
“I am not going to drink the Kool-Aid when it comes to Andy Burnham,” Sir Michael said.
“I think he's already coming out with some hot air waffle,” he added.
Sir Michael also questioned the constitutional legitimacy of Mr Burnham assuming the role of Prime Minister without a general election.
“He's got the mandate of the people of Makerfield, but he hasn't got the mandate of the country.”
The former Attorney General contrasted Mr Burnham's position with that of previous prime ministers who entered Downing Street after serving in senior Cabinet roles.
He said: “At least Theresa May had been Home Secretary. She was the longest-serving Home Secretary.
“When the Tory ones came in, they had senior Cabinet roles at the top end of the Cabinet table.”
Mr Burnham, he argued, faces a much tougher task after spending the past decade outside frontline Westminster politics.
“He's coming in as a brand-new person, and I'm not convinced,” Sir Michael said.
“He seems to be convinced that everyone's going to love him because they sort of love him in Manchester, but I think he's going to have an uphill battle.”
Earlier today, the expected next prime minister spoke to reporters for the first time since setting out his plans to shake up Westminster.
“I'm excited, actually, is what I am by the reaction that I've had to the speech that I made earlier this week. It's been really positive,” Mr Burnham said.
“I did set out quite a big plan for change. It feels like the country said, ‘Yeah, okay, this feels like the right thing to do, the right direction.’