Andy Burnham’s Manchester City comments stir fresh tensions with Premier League

Government said to be unhappy at lack of warning Burnham previously criticised league’s Everton sanction Andy Burnham’s intervention in the Manchester City debate has revived tensions between the Premier League and the prime minister. Government officials are understood to be unhappy they were not given notice that the independent commission’s damning judgment of £900m of financial manipulation and “sham contracts” would be published this week and Burnham’s response has not gone down well with several Premier League clubs concerned by his relationship with City’s owners. The Premier League published a redacted 40-page version of the commission’s report on Tuesday, not long after Burnham’s first keynote speech as leader at the Labour party conference. Continue reading...