The Lib Dem dilemma: Cozy up to Burnham or strike out alone?
The centrist bloc is giving the prime minister some breathing space — but MPs hope for a distinctive vision too.
The Liberal Democrats are holding back on criticizing new Labour Prime Minister Andy Burnham while he is still in his early days in office. Party leaders are engaging in a strategy of "constructive opposition" similar to what they did during Keir Starmer's tenure. A source close to Lib Dem leader Ed Davey believes the party is hoping Burnham will put an end to the "performative hostility" often seen in Westminster politics, as this approach tends to resonate with populist parties on both the left and right.
However, some Lib Dem members feel the party needs a more distinct identity in a highly competitive political landscape, given Labour's polling boost under Burnham and Kemi Badenoch's rising popularity among the Conservative party.
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