Andy Burnham has faced his latest radio hotseat grilling.

The mayor is Labour's candidate in the crunch Makerfield by-election on 18 June.

Some predict that victory could set him on a path towards the heart of government itself in Number 10.

The mayor appeared on BBC Radio Manchester today (May 21) to face questions over his plans for the constituency; his views on Brexit; and what he will do if voters reject him at the polls.

'Why aren't you standing down as Mayor?'

An anonymous caller asked Andy Burnham why he isn't standing down as Mayor while campaigning to be Makerfield's new MP.

They put it to the Mayor that it was 'obvious Greater Manchester isn't the priority'.

Mr Burnham hit back: "That's not the case, this constituency is part of Greater Manchester and I have a duty to do, and I'm still doing that. I am still Mayor of Greater Manchester and I'm in touch with my team all of the while.

"But I come back to it, I've been committed to Greater Manchester for 25 years as an elected representative, first in Leigh [as MP], then as Mayor, and now wanting to stand in the neighbouring constituency of Makerfield.

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"The whole approach I've taken through my career consistency is to fight for people here, to close the north-south divide, and there's only so much you can do from the role that I've been in."

Andy Burnham was asked by another caller what he would do if he loses the Makerfield by-election. Will he continue to be Greater Manchester Mayor or stand down?

He said: "It's the case that I am still the Mayor, but I will cross that bridge when we come to it. I'd be completely open to that, I want to do the right thing by people here, and I am trying to do the right thing.

"People will say why are we in this position? It's because events in Westminster have changed and drawn me in."

'People can't afford a few pints at the weekend'

Another question fired at the Mayor was what he would do as Makerfield MP should he be elected, and how he would change the country should he go on to become Prime Minister.

Pointing to the rising cost of living, Andy Burnham said 'we've been on the wrong path as a country for pretty much 40 years'.

He added: "It's taken us to a point where people in this country cannot have a good life, they cannot afford the basics, they can't afford a few pints at the weekend, they can't afford a holiday, they can't afford to buy presents for their kids."

Mr Burnham pointed to the success of Greater Manchester and its growing economy to improve lives.

As for his priorities for Makerfield, the Mayor focused on house building.

He said: "Wigan are already doing a good job, but we need to get to a point where Wigan are building more council homes than they are losing."

He called for a 'shift' to building homes in places such as Hindley and town centres, similar to the regeneration in Stockport town centre.

Brexit

With suggestions that Andy Burnham's bid for Parliament could be part of a plan to end up running the country, his views on Brexit have returned to the spotlight.

Asked about the issue on BBC Radio Manchester, the Mayor said: "Ten years on, I'm going to be really blunt, I don't think Brexit has improved things, the economy is smaller and we have weaker control of immigration, that is my view.

"However, I've not said we should now focus on rejoining. We had a vote, we shouldn't keep re-running the arguments linked to that vote.

"The way I see it, we've got to focus relentlessly domestically, let's get this country functioning again, let's get the basics right again."

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