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| Labour needs to up its game - Andy Burnham | Labour needs to up its game - Andy Burnham |
| (4 months later) | |
| Shadow health secretary Andy Burnham has said Labour needs to "up our game" if the party is to win the election. | Shadow health secretary Andy Burnham has said Labour needs to "up our game" if the party is to win the election. |
| The shadow cabinet needed to develop sharper messages and do more to get itself heard, Mr Burnham said. | The shadow cabinet needed to develop sharper messages and do more to get itself heard, Mr Burnham said. |
| In an interview with Total Politics magazine, he said it wasn't an issue of leadership but one "of the team". | In an interview with Total Politics magazine, he said it wasn't an issue of leadership but one "of the team". |
| The Labour frontbencher said the party was "united" and "galvanised", despite recent reports of internal divisions over Ed Miliband's leadership. | The Labour frontbencher said the party was "united" and "galvanised", despite recent reports of internal divisions over Ed Miliband's leadership. |
| Mr Burnham dismissed suggestions he had actively discussed Mr Miliband's exit, but told the magazine it would be "odd" for him to rule out a future leadership attempt. | Mr Burnham dismissed suggestions he had actively discussed Mr Miliband's exit, but told the magazine it would be "odd" for him to rule out a future leadership attempt. |
| Mr Burnham, who served as health secretary in the last government, contested the Labour leadership when Gordon Brown stood in 2010, but lost out to Mr Miliband. | Mr Burnham, who served as health secretary in the last government, contested the Labour leadership when Gordon Brown stood in 2010, but lost out to Mr Miliband. |
| Asked about reports of divisions over the leadership, Mr Burnham said: "It's never good, but it has galvanised people. The mood of the party is very resolute. People are gearing up now to fight the election. | Asked about reports of divisions over the leadership, Mr Burnham said: "It's never good, but it has galvanised people. The mood of the party is very resolute. People are gearing up now to fight the election. |
| "These things happen from time to time, but fundamentally we are united and in a pretty strong place. That's what matters. The mood of 99% of the Parliamentary Labour Party is very united and very positive." | "These things happen from time to time, but fundamentally we are united and in a pretty strong place. That's what matters. The mood of 99% of the Parliamentary Labour Party is very united and very positive." |
| He said of the shadow cabinet: "I think the time has come for us all to raise our game and support him. | He said of the shadow cabinet: "I think the time has come for us all to raise our game and support him. |
| "I don't make this an issue of the leader, I make this an issue of the team. We all have to really up our game, do more to get heard, get our messages sharper, get them over. I see it that way. | "I don't make this an issue of the leader, I make this an issue of the team. We all have to really up our game, do more to get heard, get our messages sharper, get them over. I see it that way. |
| "I see it as an obligation. We're in the battle now and it's about fighting every single day." | "I see it as an obligation. We're in the battle now and it's about fighting every single day." |
| Pressed on whether he had any future leadership ambitions, the shadow health secretary said: "I can't say what life will throw up in the future, but I'm focused on helping Ed, making Ed the next prime minster and getting back in." | Pressed on whether he had any future leadership ambitions, the shadow health secretary said: "I can't say what life will throw up in the future, but I'm focused on helping Ed, making Ed the next prime minster and getting back in." |
| Mr Burnham's comments come after some Labour MPs privately told reporters recently that Mr Miliband was not the right person to win the next general election, taking place in May. | Mr Burnham's comments come after some Labour MPs privately told reporters recently that Mr Miliband was not the right person to win the next general election, taking place in May. |
| Mr Miliband has admitted that his "mettle had been tested" by the speculation, but he denied that his leadership was a problem. | Mr Miliband has admitted that his "mettle had been tested" by the speculation, but he denied that his leadership was a problem. |
| Mr Miliband said it was the party's "duty... not to shrink from the fight, not to buckle under the pressure but to win". | Mr Miliband said it was the party's "duty... not to shrink from the fight, not to buckle under the pressure but to win". |
| Asked why the Labour Party was struggling, Mr Miliband said many people were "deeply sceptical about mainstream politics and whether it can solve their problems". | Asked why the Labour Party was struggling, Mr Miliband said many people were "deeply sceptical about mainstream politics and whether it can solve their problems". |