Youthful aviation minister Keir Mather is struggling to defend Burnham’s Man City rollercoaster-comments on the broadcast round this morning. At Labour Conference Burnham initially expressed concern that the verdict would reduce investment from Man City’s Emirati owners. Mather told Times Radio:
“Each time the PM has been asked about this situation and the concerning revelations that have come forward, he’s been really clear that this is an independent process and it needs to follow that course. Of course, some of the revelations that have come out are very concerning, and ultimately if there has been wrongdoing, then there should be consequences. But the prime minister has been at pains to restate that this independent process needs to be allowed to take its course. He’s said that every time he’s been asked about this issue.”
Unfortunately Mather repeated Burnham’s U-turn comment from last night which was since edited:
Mather said: “Ultimately, people don’t want the government opining on the twists and turns of this particular tale. What they actually want is for us to get out of the way and let the independent regulator do its work to establish if wrongdoing has taken place.” Criticising his own PM there…
Burnham said in his main conference speech: “For the historic victory he achieved for us, I am here to say: thank you, Keir.”