The Prime Minister-to-be was making clear he understood concerns about the proliferation of Houses of Multiple Occupancy (HMOs) in poor communities like Makerfield, many of which are given over to migrants and asylum seekers being ejected from hotels.
Now he has gone further in his first interview with GB News, making clear that he wants all communities – including those in more affluent parts of the country – to share the burden of finding places to live for asylum seekers and refugees.
Well over 2,000 migrants have arrived since he became PM – and many will be accommodated in HMOs in the UK as they wait to be processed by the system.
The PM’s concern is that some parts of the UK – often the poorest – are being required to shoulder more than their fair share.
He told GB News: “I do have to say we cannot have a situation where it’s only the poorest communities in the country that receive all of the dispersal of refugees and asylum seekers.
“I do believe all parts of the country need to work, to play there, to play their part. It’s a challenging issue.”
The main reason to site migrants in HMOs in places like Makerfield, often where homes are comparatively cheaper, will be cost.
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But it is not fair on communities who live there and risks driving more supporters to Reform.
Given this, why should more affluent areas not also see more homes given over to migrants and asylum seekers?
A challenging issue requiring a challenging answer from the PM.
Mr Burnham was responding to concerns on GB News from children in the tiny village of Piddington near Bicester who have sent him a series of heartbreaking letters asking him to halt plans to put 1,250 migrants in the hamlet.