Reports that Shabana Mahmood could be lined up for the Treasury if Andy Burnham becomes leader have drawn a sharp response from Green party leader Zack Polanski, who said the move would signal a Labour project too close to the City of London. In comments posted on social media, Polanski argued that the prospect suggested a government unwilling to confront the power of bankers or ask the wealthy to contribute more.
Polanski said the early signs were “ominous” and warned that a Labour administration leaning toward the City would amount to a return to Blair-era politics. He said voters would not accept what he described as “Rip Off Britain” any longer, framing the issue as one of political independence from financial interests.
He also shared a Financial Times front page alongside his remarks, using the paper’s line that the City would be relieved by the prospect of Burnham’s leadership. In Polanski’s view, that reaction implied the financial sector would remain comfortable with the direction of policy and would not face a challenge over wealth taxes or broader power.
The comments came amid wider speculation about possible cabinet choices under Burnham, although the composition of any future team has not been confirmed. For markets and investors, the exchange highlights how leadership speculation is already shaping perceptions of the next Labour government’s stance toward the financial sector and taxation.
Source: theguardian.com
