Burnham has won. More turmoil?

Have to agree to disagree there.

Flawed analysis. This by-election was a test to see if Reform could win the next general election. Had they taken the Makerfield seat it would have been game over for Labour. This is not about one seat for one party, it's a significant marker in the fight against the far right.

I was surprised to read this. I thought the tories were toast in Scotland

It isn't really about whether you are wealthy enough to selflessly believe in higher taxes or not. There is generally a tipping point. We don't live in isolation and London is one of the most international cities in the world which means that it has very mobile community of higher rate tax payers. If you look at our higher rate tax, it is fairly similar to other equivalent European countries. To raise more tax you have to bring more people into paying more tax. Then you have problems with it not paying to work and low productivity. People stick to part time work, don't take promotions and spend a bit less. This is already happening a lot in my work. When people spend less there is less VAT coming in and also businesses close. Businesses closing means less jobs, less spending less taxes and more demand on benefits.

Obviously, that is a very simple summary but the vast majority of people have finely balanced finances and small changes can have a big impact on them.

But isn’t the problem that not everyone is struggling (to pay rent, pay for heating or put food on the table)? We’re not all in it together. Some people are doing very well indeed.

There’s growing wealth inequality, including big regional disparities. And the UK is far worse than many other countries in terms of income inequality and compared to previous decades.

You’re right he wasn’t. He got there by policy and behaviour.

And Starmer blaming others is part of it.

This will cause noise and drama for a few weeks until Andy is defeated and Keir continues. Rachel and Ed will continue with their agendas.
It will not be good for any of us.

I hope Burnham has the sense to see that the country's interests require him to work with Starmer. It's really only journos who want a leadership contest so that they have something to write about.

I don't think so.

Starmer wasn't particularly disliked on day 1 but it didn't take any time at all for people to start criticising him for everything wrong in the world and their lives.

The same thing will happen with Burnham and I think the media bears a lot of the responsibility - particularly social media.

People just want someone to blame - and seem so angry these days.

What is this obsession people have about people's mannerisms and looks in politics. It seems if people disagree with someone's politics they feel happy in providing a personal critique of the mannerisms or dress sense or how they eat.

Quite frankly I couldn't give a flying fig as long as they do a decent job and things get better for everyone.

I doubt it. A win for Reform in Makerfield wouldn’t have given us a Reform government and made Farage PM. They would just have added 1 MP to their relatively small number.

It was a vote to get Starmer out and make AB PM. If you wanted Starmer out, you would need to vote Labour. If you were of the mind that you think Starmer should stay, you would vote for the biggest party that wasn’t Labour.

Reform got 32% of the vote.

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

I am relieved he has won because reform winning another seat is not what the country needs.

I hope Burnham doesn’t try to rush the headship challenge but his ego is desire to be PM so I think he will likely do this quickly. Starmer has his strong points and at present we need stability and a PM who shows commitment and strength particularly when dealing with world leaders.

i think Burnham will be more popular with voters and is more likely to win the next election, but that doesn’t make him a better PM just possibly a more popular one and he is more likely to make choices to increase his popularity t

It's not a fact the Reform cleaned up in Makerfield in the local elections? Are you sure about that?
The people of Makerfield want a change of prime minister more than they want a Reform MP.

No I don't have fairies in my garden. Do you always suggest that people who you disagree with are suffering a lapse in mental health?

the simple point is KS, RR and BP rushed in a tonne of policies most people didn’t want and that were hugely unpopular.

I quite like Andy Burnham but I agree the last thing the UK needs right now is more instability. It was good to see Reform get a trouncing though.

Quote the opposite. Starmer was very clear there would be a difficult 2 year period before any improvement.

Reform still got 42 percent though - no evidence the shine is coming off, AB’s speech was dead on, it’s much more like voters in that region (I work mostly there) are giving labour one last chance to implement some policies most people think are good ideas.

Starmer is too disliked. Maybe you’ll have more of a chance with Burnham.

So if it’s the banks running everything, why are you then blaming Labour 🤷‍♀️

There was a real trend towards tactical voting to keep out Reform. Look at Lib Dems, Greens - maybe even Conservative vote?

I know it’s cringe.

It started almost immediately Labour won the election. They were constantly blamed for things they couldn’t possibly be responsible for after 14 years of Tory Government.

And yet people blamed them for poor public services, immigration, failing economy etc etc from day one. It’s like people are unable to exercise any critical thinking whatsoever.

I fear Ed Milliband more than the idea of Andy Burnham to be honest. I saw an interview with him and he sounds almost deranged. He is another one with a huge ego and look what he did to his own brother.
Id rather a General election than have him in charge and I can’t imagine that Rachel Reeves will keep her job if we get a new PM.

People who see the "rich" as some kind barrow boy made good, pull yourself up by your own bootstraps class are both well out of date and frankly, lickspittles. The rich now is the rentier class, living it up on passive income from property speculation and the like. As if they don't look down on the salaried, including the ones who think they're better than the minimum wage earners.