Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Burnham has won. More turmoil?

816 replies

KatiePricesKnickers · 19/06/2026 05:51

Now Burnham has won, it will trigger a leadership contest, and if he wins, a new chancellor of the exchequer.

Surely this cannot be good for the country, or its finances?

YABU - Burnham is a true leader who will improve the UK for everyone and be a competent and respected leader.

YANBU - FFS, here we go again.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
AllJoyAndNoFun · 19/06/2026 10:52

Happyjoe · 19/06/2026 10:34

And yet the tories left us with a bigger debt than Labour ever did, together with a messed up, broken country with nothing working and high unemployment and benefits bill. Ah, but yeah, all Labours fault eh?

Show quote history

Right- but there were 2 big inflection points in the national debt - sharp increase immediately after GFC until 2010, when Labour were still in power and had been for the previous decade (increase slowed after 2010) and covid - I mean they could have just let it rip or not paid anyone furlough but I dont think Labour would have done that either.

DandelionFarmer · 19/06/2026 10:50

Flyingintotheunknown · 19/06/2026 10:48

Oh I forgot that one haha!

Show quote history

So has Starmer!

DandelionFarmer · 19/06/2026 10:49

Passingthrough123 · 19/06/2026 09:14

It's been only 18 months and in that time we've also had increasing global uncertainty and a new war in the Middle East that's driving up prices, impacting inflation and stagnating the economy and interest rates. It would've been the same if Reform, the Tories or the Monster Raving Looney Party was in Number 10.

Actually, scratch that. It would've been worse because Farage would've taken us to war to suck up to Trump.

Show quote history

2 years beginning of july

StressedLP1 · 19/06/2026 10:49

Flyingintotheunknown · 19/06/2026 09:51

Yes I agree… however, they didn’t get as unpopular as Starmer and certainly not so unpopular within their first 12 months. They won the biggest majority in a hung parliament in 2010 and formed a coalition with the Lib Dems, then won 2 further general elections before being voted out in 2024. Even the Blair/ brown government lasted 3 terms too before the point of becoming so unpopular. KS has managed it within record time. Thats what I’m saying.

Show quote history

A lot of that is the press trumping it up. They are never going to play defence for Labour. In real life no one I know thinks Starmer is bad. After the revolving door chaos of Tory PMs I think some have become accustomed to the drama and tear the office like a the bloody England football manager. Not the press though - chaos sells.

Flyingintotheunknown · 19/06/2026 10:48

DandelionFarmer · 19/06/2026 10:47

Indeed...and don't forget "smash the gangs"..... oh no wait....

Show quote history

Oh I forgot that one haha!

LikeASoulWithoutAMind · 19/06/2026 10:48

moose62 · 19/06/2026 06:18

To me it is not really about the person but the fact that the party in Government can vote in whoever they want as PM without the people who voted for them having a say. This goes for all parties.
Perhaps Burnham will be good, perhaps he will be a shambles, but either way he wasn't voted in by the people.
I know he was mayor but that doesn't mean he can run the country....I would feel the same if they said Sadiq Khan was going to be PM.

You know he's previously held several major shadow cabinet positions including education and health? He's not new to this.

ToWhitToWhoo · 19/06/2026 10:48

YABU, but simply because defeating the far right (yay!) outweighs just about everything!

Well done Makerfield!

DandelionFarmer · 19/06/2026 10:47

Flyingintotheunknown · 19/06/2026 09:28

“I can’t wait to no longer hear KS’s “my dad was a toolmaker””

And “let me be clear” and “I have a mandate”

Show quote history

Indeed...and don't forget "smash the gangs"..... oh no wait....

Whoopiedooo · 19/06/2026 10:47

It's almost as if they saw the Tories do it and want a go too.
It's a rare PM that's great.
Starmer is as good as most, and we need stability.

DandelionFarmer · 19/06/2026 10:44

jobnotsure · 19/06/2026 08:46

They have produced quite a few female politicians who could be prime minister.

Angela Rayner, Shabana Mahmood, Yvette Cooper, Bridget Phillipson, Lisa Nandy just to name a few.

Many people are more interested in policies rather than playing politics and culture wars - which is what people are doing when they focus on the sex of the Labour Party leader rather than the policies.

Edited
Show quote history

Mahmood is possible...the others well you are deluded.

DandelionFarmer · 19/06/2026 10:37

ForGreenHiker · 19/06/2026 08:26

Because the statement I assume (and don’t want to speak on behalf of the poster) was meant that white males are over represented in positions of high office. Wanted a change from that is not sexist or racist.

it also plays into the far-right notion of their being “anti-white racism” in this country. Which is bollocks. There is racism in this country. It is increasing. And it isn’t against white people

Show quote history

How is racism and sexism defined then?

ByGraptharsHammer · 19/06/2026 10:36

The timing is clever. Most of any contest will be over the summer, when voters are least likely to be thinking about politics, and then they could have a new leader by conference. Burnham to win it, all the rest are bidding for jobs in Cabinet.

Starmer has been a poor leader with a very bad deck of cards given to him. Still he made some serious mistakes upfront on welfare and spending. He probably regrets not being more impassioned now, but no one voted for a chief lawyer. They vote for hope.

Happyjoe · 19/06/2026 10:34

Swiss177 · 19/06/2026 06:15

I genuinely don’t understand how a single person votes Labour. I can only assume they are supportive of others subsidising them. There is no other rational answer. They simply have to be economically selfish.

And yet the tories left us with a bigger debt than Labour ever did, together with a messed up, broken country with nothing working and high unemployment and benefits bill. Ah, but yeah, all Labours fault eh?

Flyingintotheunknown · 19/06/2026 10:33

ClarkeandNewman · 19/06/2026 10:30

I think that can be at least partly attributed to our severely outdated voting system. Labour ostensibly won a landslide but the majority was shallow. They didn't enjoy any depth of goodwill or support right from the start. Then perceived corruption set in, along with the abandonment of many genuinely left wing policies and commitments - the racist speech was inexcusable. We really do need a different electoral system if disillusionment and lack of representation in political power is to be reversed.

Edited
Show quote history

Yes I agree. Plus I believe a lot of it was tactical voting just to get the tories out as well.

The Lib Dem’s campaigned for a different voting system in 2012 though and we had a referendum yet FPTP won. I wonder what the results would be if we were to have the same referendum again.

ClarkeandNewman · 19/06/2026 10:30

Flyingintotheunknown · 19/06/2026 09:51

Yes I agree… however, they didn’t get as unpopular as Starmer and certainly not so unpopular within their first 12 months. They won the biggest majority in a hung parliament in 2010 and formed a coalition with the Lib Dems, then won 2 further general elections before being voted out in 2024. Even the Blair/ brown government lasted 3 terms too before the point of becoming so unpopular. KS has managed it within record time. Thats what I’m saying.

Show quote history

I think that can be at least partly attributed to our severely outdated voting system. Labour ostensibly won a landslide but the majority was shallow. They didn't enjoy any depth of goodwill or support right from the start. Then perceived corruption set in, along with the abandonment of many genuinely left wing policies and commitments - the racist speech was inexcusable. We really do need a different electoral system if disillusionment and lack of representation in political power is to be reversed.

Katemax82 · 19/06/2026 10:29

Flyingintotheunknown · 19/06/2026 10:28

People on the right get accused of racism just for having concerns about immigration yet some people think it’s ok to post a despicable clearly racist comment like that! If they had made a comment about them being a brown leader there would be uproar on this thread! But no it’s somehow acceptable to be racist against white people for some reason!

Show quote history

I know it's disgusting

Flyingintotheunknown · 19/06/2026 10:28

Katemax82 · 19/06/2026 10:24

Exactly!! Why is it ok to hate white men?

Show quote history

People on the right get accused of racism just for having concerns about immigration yet some people think it’s ok to post a despicable clearly racist comment like that! If they had made a comment about them being a brown leader there would be uproar on this thread! But no it’s somehow acceptable to be racist against white people for some reason!

Ihateboris · 19/06/2026 10:28

Nowimhereandimlost · 19/06/2026 10:24

They even have Liz Truss (September - October 2022).

Show quote history

What an absolute joke.

Flyingintotheunknown · 19/06/2026 10:26

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 19/06/2026 10:19

Don’t you mean, ‘Let me be absolutely clear….’

Show quote history

Yeah he makes the odd variation every now and again. “Let me be absolutely clear” and “Let me be crystal clear” and even “Let me be absolutely crystal clear” I think he’s said too 😂 All involve the usual “let me be clear” line in some form or another

Soujourn · 19/06/2026 10:25

I agree we need stability but we also need a prime minister who is effective, and prepared to make big radical changes to address the many issues facing this country. I genuinely believe that Andy Burnham has big ideas and a vision to deliver that. I don’t think Keir Starmer “gets” that radical change is required at all. He tinkers, he doesn’t get to the heart of the issue, and has no vision.

Isitevensummer · 19/06/2026 10:25

I think the decks were stacked against Starmer from the start, egged on by foreign influence, self interested right wing politicians and a very right wing press. And compounded by a population at their wits end and desperate for some relief in the middle of a cost of living crises. Starmer is not known for his charisma but he’s not been as terrible as painted, nor has Reeves. But I do think a Burnham leadership would be a good thing.

Nowimhereandimlost · 19/06/2026 10:24

Ihateboris · 19/06/2026 09:02

🤣🤣

Show quote history

They even have Liz Truss (September - October 2022).

Katemax82 · 19/06/2026 10:24

Flyingintotheunknown · 19/06/2026 09:57

What a totally racist comment. Do you think that would be acceptable to say about anyone else with a different skin colour?

Show quote history

Exactly!! Why is it ok to hate white men?

Cyclebabble · 19/06/2026 10:21

I am not sure Burnham will be any more successful than Starmer. The only difference is Starmer had a mandate. Burnham does not. I am fearful that we will see further tax rises and widespread use of the phrase “those with the broadest shoulders” whilst the welfare bill continues to grow unchallenged.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 19/06/2026 10:19

Flyingintotheunknown · 19/06/2026 09:28

“I can’t wait to no longer hear KS’s “my dad was a toolmaker””

And “let me be clear” and “I have a mandate”

Show quote history

Don’t you mean, ‘Let me be absolutely clear….’