Burnham sparks Twitter row with London MP over train fare comparisons

Labour’s so-called “King of the North” Andy Burnham has sparked a Twitter debate over regional disparities in travel fares which other Labour politicians have took aim to.

Burnham served as MP for Leigh from 2001 to 2017 when he stood down to run for the mayoralty of Greater Manchester.

He tweeted earlier today: 

Public transport is so expensive in our part of the world.

This is the cost of a one-stop, 20-minute journey.

To be levelled up, we need London-level fares.

Accept nothing less. pic.twitter.com/Dug5VOaisC

— Andy Burnham (@AndyBurnhamGM) October 20, 2021

Neil Coyle, the Labour MP for Bermondsey and Old Southwark hit back, quoting replying to Burnham’s tweet: “It is *more expensive* to have a season ticket from Croydon to central London than Chorley to central Manchester. These cheap digs at London are inaccurate and need to end, not least for anyone interested in Labour doing well, or anyone interested in facts.”