Andy Burnham’s Labour leadership bid hit a rough patch at the GMB hustings today. When asked by the moderator Kevin Maguire if he supported the £23,000 a year benefits cap, unlike the other candidates, Burnham was unable to give a straight yes or no answer. As you can watch above, he attempted to explain his stance: ‘In principle, it’s not right that people on benefits get more than they are likely to earn in a lifetime,’ but the audience didn’t seem to care.
Then later in the debate, the candidates were quizzed on the cost of everyday items, such as petrol. After hesitating, Burnham said it was £1.60 a litre — far off the current average price of £1.16 according to the AA. For a candidate standing on his everyday bloke anti-Westminster appeal, both of these mistakes will damage his standing.
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