Burnham’s policy prescription is ambitious and far from perfect… the triple lock change doesn’t cover the cost social care of example. But it also feels vitally important he pulls this off. If he fails then the sense of inertia it will generate in British politics will be horrendous.
![Burnham says government needs mandate for electoral reform, but it could happen in next parliament Lisa Smart (Lib Dem) said her party would strongly back Burnham if he brought in changes to the voting system ahead of the next election.
Burnham said, standing as election for mayor of Greater Manchester under the supplementary vote system (where second preferences are taken into account), he was struck by how that changed they behaviour of candidates. They had to look for agreement with opponents, he said.
He went on:
14 Where I will disagree with [Smart] is in saying that we do that ahead of any general election, because I do believe there needs to be a mandate to make that change.
There are different views in this house, but I believe we will need to get a consensus at the next election.
And if there is that consensus, then a change can be made in the next parliament.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:gg6zqridngqaldjyave24qit/bafkreiho3ieseevfvc3tf6wi7tum4vtciq6lzojjbhebgyk36w4byqwq5m)
