Grace Pritchard

Yorkshire lass. Comms @UKLabour | Views own

[The New Statesman @NewStatesman]

THE CASUAL COUP by @PronouncedAlva

On the campaign trail with Andy Burnham:

This is a campaign on several levels. Burnham has “a tough fight” against Reform, as I hear him say repeatedly while watching him door-knocking. But he’s also fighting two other implied contests: with a Labour selectorate of MPs and members, who soon may well have to decide whether to nominate or vote for him to replace Keir Starmer; and with the electorate at large, who soon could find themselves choosing between Burnham and Nigel Farage in a general election. This is a tight by-election against Farage’s Reform, but Burnham is already being scrutinised as a prospective prime minister.

With three weeks to go until polling day, Burnham has allowed me to accompany him while campaigning in Makerfield, an invitation extended only to the New Statesman.

He says this by-election is the last chance to stop Reform. “If I just put it in the terms of Greater Manchester, I feel we’re on the cusp. If we don’t pull it back now, I think something changes.” On Wigan Council, Labour lost all of the seats it was defending to Reform in May. “That’s a very big statement. You can’t just see that and minimise it.” When people ask him “Why this moment?” results like that are why.

As one of Andy Burnham’s closest allies put it to me: “Whatever happens, this will be in the history books.”

Cover photo by Niall Hodson for the New Statesman

[Andy Burnham for Makerfield @andy4makerfield]

“You do not get the truth about Hillsborough until you get the truth about Orgreave.”

@AndyBurnhamGM fought for miners’ compensation.

He stood with the Hillsborough families in their fight for justice.

And he will fight for our towns in Makerfield.

[Grace Pritchard @graceepritch]

@DanielWilton6 You’re such a talent & will be back! 🌹

[Rory Palmer @Rory_Palmer]

One of the best council leaders in recent times.
Not for the first or probably last time that excellent local leadership is overlooked and comes to count for very little in local elections.

[Grace Pritchard @graceepritch]

Vote Labour! 🌹 🗳️ #DogsAtPollingStations

[Ed Miliband @Ed_Miliband]

Great to be in Lewisham, Milton Keynes, Islington and Haringey over the past few days.

A vote for Labour is a vote for brilliant local candidates who will deliver for their communities.

🌹 Vote Labour tomorrow, Thursday 7th May.

[Grace Pritchard @graceepritch]

@_tomscotson 👏🏼 👏🏼

[Ed Miliband @Ed_Miliband]

Great to be in Sheffield yesterday with the brilliant @TomHunt100 and the @CenSheffLab team.

🌹A vote for Labour on 7th May is a vote for hardworking local candidates who will put their communities first.

[Ed Miliband @Ed_Miliband]

Today we've set out a package of measures to go further and faster on clean power.

For a summary of what we've announced, read on...🧵

https://t.co/AFg8quQF7S

1/10

[Lucy Powell MP @LucyMPowell]

A must read from Angeliki in @guardian as we nearly head to the polls in Gorton and Denton 👇

https://t.co/OA8laLGbJl

[Grace Pritchard @graceepritch]

@JAHeale 😂😂

[Ed Miliband @Ed_Miliband]

1/ Today we publish our Warm Homes Plan.

The biggest investment in home upgrades in British history.

Lifting up to 1 million families out of fuel poverty, and cutting bills for millions of people.

https://t.co/o8u9mWjHLt

[Michael Shanks MP @mgshanks]

A historic moment for UK offshore wind - my view from Edinburgh 👀

[Ed Miliband @Ed_Miliband]

1/ We’ve secured a record-breaking 8.4GW of offshore wind, enough to power the equivalent of over 12 million homes.

This is the largest amount of offshore wind procured in any auction ever in Britain or indeed Europe.

[Grace Pritchard @graceepritch]

Unbelievably proud of @MarieTidball!🌹 @spectator

[Grace Pritchard @graceepritch]

@DominicPenna Absolutely!!!

[Grace Pritchard @graceepritch]

He’s the star of the show even on my birthday

[Lionesses @Lionesses]

It's home, again.

[Dan Maasdam @DanieI98]

50,000 people watching its come home. #tramlines #Lionesses