Gavin Grey: UK correspondent on Manchester's mayor changing mind on Brexit

Things are heating up in the world of UK politics, as Manchester mayor Andy Burnham backs away from Brexit stance. 

Burnham's supporters say it’s unhelpful the debate has centred around the UK re-joining the EU after his main opponent for the job said he’d prioritise binning Brexit.

UK correspondent Gavin Grey explained further.

LISTEN ABOVE

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Devin Gray UK correspondence with s l O Gevin. Hi there, Heather,
Now tell me why has Andy Birmingham backed away from
this business of Brixit has it bed for him? Yes,
because the Mayor of Manchester needs to become an MP
in order to be able to fight for the leadership
of the Labor Party and therefore to become Prime Minister.

(00:20):
But the seat in which he's fighting, Makerfield and Greater
Manchester did at the referendum for Brexit vote heavily in
favor of Brexit, roughly two to one. And now suddenly
the future of Britain, either in or out of the EU,
is being debated again. Why well, because the other front

(00:40):
runner in this potential leadership challenge, the former Health Secretary
Weds Streeting, said it was a catastrophic mistake for the
UK to leave and under his leadership he sees Britain
back in the EU. Now, of course we had a
referendum to come out. Is he saying he would just
do it or is he saying that we would have
another referendum? But he has said that's what he would

(01:02):
do if he was in charge. That means people are asking,
of course, the mayor of Manchester, Andy Burnham, what would
you do as the other leadership contender in this likely contest. Well,
we know he's a huge European supporter, and in the
past he has said he thought it was a mistake
and believes now he says there's a case for joining

(01:22):
the EU in the long term, but he says he's
not advocating that in this particular by election that he
will be fighting. Why because of course it might lose
him a lot of votes, and all of a sudden,
the EU and our relationship with the EU is front
and center of this leadership challenge and when it happens,
and that is not something that's particularly useful for Andy Burnham,

(01:44):
his supporter saying it is a shame that the leadership
rival has now brought this into the mix. But do
you know what, I'm a bit of an old cynic.
Perhaps this was done deliberately by were streeting to put
Andy Burnham in a difficult place. Quite right, you may
well have read that very well, Gavin. What's this business
about these police officers falling asleep outside windsor amazing accusations?

(02:07):
So as you know, of course, Windsor Castle is a
very prominent Royal residence and the royals do stay over
there occasionally and uniform role protection officers patrol the walls
of the castle, the estate, the perimeter. It's a huge estate,
six hundred and fifty five acres. But it is being
reported that actually some of those who are meant to

(02:30):
be protecting the king while he's asleep were asleep themselves
on duty and not at their posts. It is being reported,
but not confirmed, up to thirty officers are under investigation.
A formal probe has been launched by the Directorate of
Professional Standards within that section of the police. The Royal
family have been involved, not made any being informed, but

(02:52):
not made any comment on this, and it is said
those who the finger is being pointed out are under
investigation and decision on whether they'll be put on restrictive
duties at the moment is anticipated in the next couple
of days. Either way, this is highly embarrassing if it's true,
and this, as I said, first appeared as a report
in a paper and has since absolutely gotten mad with

(03:15):
people were saying, hang on a minute, the king's asleep
and the people meant to protect him are asleep. That
is not a good way to go not at all.
I thank you very much, Kevin really appreciate it. Gavin Gray,
UK correspondent. For more from Hither Duplessy Allen Drive, listen
live to news talks it'd be from four pm weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio