Labour's Burnham denies veiled attack

LABOUR leadership candidate Andy Burnham has denied his criticism of the previous administration's "London-centric" elitism was a veiled attack on his rivals David and Ed Miliband.

Mr Burnham has presented himself as the "anti-establishment" candidate in the race to succeed Gordon Brown.

He said that New Labour, at its worst, was "self-indulgent, arrogant, elitist, London-centric... hollow and rootless" But in a TV interview yesterday the shadow health secretary emphasised he was not making personal attacks on his leadership rivals.

"I making no personal comments about anybody," Mr Burnham said. "My critique is of a style of politics and it goes to the heart of why I'm putting myself forward to lead the Labour Party. I believe we need a clean break from that style of politics.

"When you put yourself forward for the top job, you earn the right to tell some harsh truths to your party and that is what I am doing. I'm attacking what I have perceived to be wrong in the culture of New Labour."