Prime Minister-in-waiting Andy Burnham creating a national buzz around himself is his key to No 10.
Likeability, hope and optimism are ballot box winners’ votes and a White House veteran who worked for Obama and Biden identified the newly elected Labour MP for Makerfield’s universal allure as a great asset. I have long thought the old joke about a Blairite, Brownite and Corbynite going into a pub and the landlord saying “Hello, Andy” signified a lack of fixed convictions that was a damaging weakness.
However, told the quip in London a few days ago, the American strategist exclaimed: “That’s brilliant because he’ll appeal to so many people.” Maybe it could be that Burnham’s secret weapon is being whoever a voter wants him to be, the stunning Makerfield victory scoring 55% of the vote, outpolling all dozen rivals combined, certainly a broad base.
Tactical voters, including Lib Dems and Greens and perhaps even a few Tories repelled by Nigel Farage and Reform, were clearly happy to put an X next to the name of a Labour man poised to push Keir Starmer into the history books.
Yet Starmer’s inability to explain what he believed in is counted among flaws, and Burnham will need to refine and convey what his “Manchesterism” means for the country as a whole because there is no hiding in Downing Street. Travelling ideologically light would backfire if Blairites, Brownites and Corbynites all feel neglected rather than represented.
As Starmer packs his bags and Wes Streeting and potential challengers must consider whether it is better to fight and lose or approve a coronation, a prominent Burnham ally told me they want the presumptive PM to immediately rule out a snap general election to avoid destabilising uncertainty.
Setting the big ballot for Thursday July 5, 2029 now would, the ally argued, end speculation and give around three years to transform the country and Labour’s prospects. Theoretically, the next election could be as late as August 15 of that year and the danger to Burnham would be giving Kemi Badenoch, Farage and the rest a clear goal.
But with no prospect of matching Labour’s inflated 2024 majority, MPs in marginal seats would be happier. And that way, Burnham could avoid the mistakes of a Gordon Brown, battered by considering then bottling an early election, or a Theresa May, who went for one and never recovered from losing the Tory majority.
Burnham proclaims he wants to do politics differently. Let’s see how he walks the talk.
‘We can all be British, European… and proud!’
Brexit was unprecedented national self-harm, which is why on the eve of the referendum’s 10th anniversary most voters want back in the EU, and con artists led by Nigel Farage and Boris Johnson try to dodge accountability for poisonous lies.
One recent US study projected the cost to be 6% off national income in 10 years, which would be nudging £200billion. Or more than enough to rejuvenate health, education, policing, defence and welfare without considering cuts elsewhere or tax hikes.
The cost wasn’t only lost jobs, expensive trade barriers, higher immigration and longer passport queues when the country was bitterly divided by a project championed by – surprise, surprise – Britain’s enemies Trump and Putin.
Makerfield, a 2016 Leave-voting area, electing a Remainer in Burnham, proved that pro-Europeans no longer need fear a backlash despite his backpedalling in the by-election.
British Europeans can be out and proud, Burnham bold if he wishes. Whereas Little Britons are defensive and losing popularity.
‘Elite hiding in plain sight’
Nepo baby and future head of state William Windsor sending the head of state after him, son George, to privileged £63,000 Eton instead of a state school is an elite hiding in plain sight.
One of the few public services this privileged family use are police motorcyclists to speed chauffeur-driven limos through traffic – and that’s a service the paying public is denied. So perhaps we shouldn’t really be surprised by the school snub when a gilded PR racket pretending to care and be in touch with the masses has little to do with us.
Now Will’s dad, Charlie, is polishing his crown for being a little more open about paying tax. Hmmm…
Might Charlie cough up £200m inheritance tax avoided under a sweetheart deal on £500m bequeathed by his late mam?Thought not.
‘Muted reaction’
Legal restrictions on commenting to guarantee fair trials are justifiably imposed for court cases, yet the tale of two attacks cannot go unobserved.
Scotland’s SNP former First Minister Humza Yousaf and Green Party leader Zack Polanski were among voices noting public, political and media reaction to the stabbing of five men in a suspected anti-Muslim rampage in Edinburgh was muted compared with the assault in Belfast where a migrant faces charges.
Polanski, himself Jewish, contrasted the reaction to anti-Semitic incidents, but asserted too often “attacks against Muslims get ignored” or are downplayed. British Muslims could learn from British Jews on how to call out hate and the decent majority will be relieved extremist thugs didn’t set Edinburgh ablaze like Belfast.
We’re seeing all lives don’t matter equally in the eyes of far-right racists, some politicians and parts of the media.
