Reform UK's new chairman Lee Anderson ripped Andy Burnham to shreds during an interview with Martin Daubney on GB News. In one of his first chats after assuming the role he slammed Burnham over his decision to run in the Makerfield by-election in the hopes of regaining his seat as an MP in order to challenge Keir Starmer for the Labour leadership.

"He's a political chameleon," he said. "He is a carpetbagger," he continued in a scathing four word put-down. "I mean, people don't believe his nonsense anymore. He'll say anything. I saw a little bit of his speech this morning, and what a cheek he's got - smug, as if he's just going to waltz in. I mean, the selection process has not even taken place yet, and he's already talking like he's the current Prime Minister. I think he's going to be hit for a rude awakening next month," he stated.

"I've been out again this morning on the doorsteps, and even the Labour voters we've spoken to do not like Andy Burnham in this neck of the woods.

"They say he may have done a reasonable job in Manchester, in the city centre, but in places like Makerfield, they've been totally forgotten about," he insisted.

Burnham, who is currently the Greater Manchester Mayor is putting himself forward in the Makerfield by-election after Labour MP Josh Simons quit to give him a route back into Parliament.

The so-called "King of the North" is seen as the favourite to rescue Labour and replace Sir Keir Starmer as prime minister in the wake of a dreadful local election wipeout by Nigel Farage's Reform UK.

Daubney's GB News colleague Christopher Hope chimed in to challenge Anderson about Reform's candidate for the by-election.

"Aren't you gonna have a carpetbagger?" he enquired. "I mean, you're not from the area. Who are you gonna find at Reform UK? Will it be a local champion, or will it also be someone who wants to get their foot onto the greasy Westminster poll?" he asked.

"I predict that we'll have a strong local candidate announced within the next 24 hours in this area," he revealed.

"You know, whoever we choose it's going to be somebody that wants to represent this brilliant constituency, not some carpet bagger who wants to use it as a stepping stone to become the Prime Minister," Anderson insisted.