Labour MPs Neil Duncan-Jordan and Chris Hinchliff have called for “bold change” during Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s first 100 days in Downing Street, as they promote a new platform aimed at influencing the direction of the Labour Government.
Duncan-Jordan, the Labour MP for Poole, set out the call on X while promoting the Socialism26 platform, which describes its proposals as “a programme for change inside the Labour Party”.
Writing on X, Duncan-Jordan said:
“Myself and @CHinchliffMP are calling for bold change in Andy Burnham’s first 100 days.
“The clock is ticking on this Labour Government. There is no time to spare.
“Here’s what our Socialism26 platform wants to see.”
The intervention from Duncan-Jordan and Hinchliff represents an effort by Labour MPs to shape the policy debate during the opening months of Burnham’s premiership and encourage the new Government to move quickly on its programme for change.
The Socialism26 campaign is focused on both the direction of the Labour Government and change within the Labour Party itself, with campaign material describing the initiative as a “programme for change inside the Labour Party”.
The MPs argue that Burnham’s first 100 days provide an important opportunity for Labour to demonstrate to voters that the change in leadership will translate into tangible changes in policy and delivery.
Duncan-Jordan’s warning that “there is no time to spare” reflects wider pressure within the Labour movement for the Government to use the early period of Burnham’s premiership to rebuild public confidence and deliver improvements for working people.
Hinchliff, the Labour MP for North East Hertfordshire, has joined Duncan-Jordan in backing the Socialism26 programme and its push for a more ambitious policy agenda.
Their intervention comes as Burnham continues to establish the priorities of his new administration following his arrival in Downing Street.
While the new Prime Minister has emphasised economic growth, stronger public services and improving living standards, different parts of the Labour movement are now putting forward their own priorities for what the Government should deliver.
The Socialism26 campaign is likely to form part of that wider debate over Labour’s political and economic direction.
For Duncan-Jordan and Hinchliff, the central argument is that the Government has a limited window in which to demonstrate that Burnham’s premiership represents a substantive change in direction.
With the Prime Minister’s first 100 days under way, the two MPs are urging Labour to use that period to pursue what they describe as “bold change”.
