Labour peer Lord Glasman has predicted the “end of my beloved party” if Andy Burnham fails to secure victory in the Makerfield by-election.
Speaking to GB News, the Blue Labour founder gave his thoughts on the contest, which Nigel Farage confirmed Reform UK “will throw absolutely everything at”.
Mr Burnham is expected to challenge the seat after Josh Simons, after he stood down to allow the Greater Manchester Mayor a return to Westminster.
However, a victory is far from certain, with Reform UK hot on Labour's heels in the seat where 65 per cent voted to leave the EU in 2016.
Camilla Tominey asked Lord Glasman: “If he loses it, isn't that the first and strongest sign ever that Nigel Farage will be the next Prime Minister?”
“It's deeper than that. If he loses it, Labour will have died in the hearts of the working class in the North,” the Blue Labour architect despaired.
“That would be the end of my beloved party. It's a very big election."
To that end, Lord Glasman stressed the importance of Mr Burnham correctly gauging the public mood.
Lord Glasman has predicted the 'end of my beloved party' if Andy Burnham fails to secure victory in the Makerfield by-election
|GB NEWS
“There is no path forward for Andy Burnham if he doesn't genuinely embrace the people of Wigan," he said. "This is what he's got to do.
“That means no rejoining the EU under any circumstances.
“He's got to articulate where he is, and he's got to articulate it to a very particular group of people, which are the voters in Wigan.
“I can't wait for this; it is the most significant by-election in our modern history."
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Andy Burnham is expected to challenge the seat after Josh Simons stood down
|GETTY
The Labour peer’s warning to Mr Burnham came after Wes Streeting, who launched a bid to become leader on Saturday, called for the UK to rejoin the European Union.
During his speech, the former Health Secretary called Brexit a “catastrophic mistake” and called for a new “special relationship” with Brussels.
Tearing into Mr Streeting’s stance, Lord Glasman described it as “shocking” and pining for the Blairite era of “free movement, open borders, no nation states and mass migration”.
“He’s only right-wing in Labour terms because he's pro-market. He's a Blairite and not at all conservative in that way," he said.
The Labour peer also addressed Wes Streeting's calls for the UK to rejoin the EU
|PA
“What he said yesterday was extraordinary to me. I mean, we've resolved the Brexit issue.
“For him to say, rejoin an ailing institution, an economically stagnant institution, was ridiculous.
“The other thing that they don't see is that the AfD and Le Pen are going to win the next elections in France and Germany.
“I mean, this is bonkers."
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