Like all other Labour Party members I received an email from Andy Burnham a few days ago:

I know that if Labour is to win again, we have to change … I want you to be part of that change.

I have a strong vision for how our Party needs to change. About how we should rebuild our emotional connection with the millions of people who we’ve lost touch with …

The truth is, the biggest strength of our Party is our people, and our collective knowledge and experience. It’s only through us working together that we’ll make our Party great again.

So today I’d like to hear from you. David Pavett, will you tell me your top priority for Labour?

Despite the claim that he thinks that that “the biggest strength of our Party is our people, our collective knowledge and experience,” Andy Burnham has taken on John Lehal from the Insight Consulting Group, which lobbies for Big Pharma companies, as his campaign director. Lehal is joined by Katie Myler, who is a managing director for the lobbying firm Burston-Marsteller, which includes private healthcare providers and union-buster INEOS among its clients. Might it not reasonably be suggested that this gives an idea of just how much he values the members’ collective knowledge and experience? Continue reading →