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Original poster

To think Andy Burnham is smug?

495 replies

Lyra25 · 22/06/2026 12:28

To think Andy Burnham is smug and presumptuous. Just that really and I have no particular political preference, disillusioned with the lot!

OP posts:
VividPinkTraybake · 22/06/2026 17:46

FlyingApple · 22/06/2026 17:02

And yet we have to just accept him as PM apparently.

Why wouldn't we?

concertinacornflake · 22/06/2026 17:45

Legochristmas · 22/06/2026 17:42

Wow you are right. It was much more immediate in my memory.

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That was one of the most ridiculous political decisions.

concertinacornflake · 22/06/2026 17:43

JimBobsWife · 22/06/2026 17:38

What % of those prime minsters were elected as MPs just days before that?

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None I think, but realistically what difference does this make? He could have been a constituency MP for years and you'd know far less about him than you do.

VividPinkTraybake · 22/06/2026 17:43

Clavinova · 22/06/2026 15:41

He understands the political system we have in the U.K.

I've just checked - Andy Burnham tweeted # GeneralElectionNow in response to Kay Burley's tweet on the Tory leadership race in 2022. She posted;

Worth noting only 0.3% of the UK electorate will decide the next PM...
What do you think?

Burnham replied;

Andy Burnham
@ AndyBurnhamGM
# GeneralElectionNow
Jul 18, 2022

No doubt Burnham is a hypocrite and champagne socialist, just like Starmer.

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You had to ruin what was with actually a good point with a random shout of "champagne socialist" didn't you?

Legochristmas · 22/06/2026 17:42

VividPinkTraybake · 22/06/2026 17:35

If by immediate you mean 11 months....

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Wow you are right. It was much more immediate in my memory.

VividPinkTraybake · 22/06/2026 17:41

FirstNationsEnglish · 22/06/2026 15:37

To think Andy Burnham is smug?

Well, to be fair, he has got himself very rapidly re-elected back into Westminster and the 'top job' with all it's many lucrative benefits is within his sights, so perhaps it's only natural to feel a little smug? It's clear he is an individual who likes power.

Yes unlike all the other prime ministers we've had that we're surprised to win the job in a raffle.....

TeethAreImportant · 22/06/2026 17:41

GoneWithTHeWindJammers · 22/06/2026 14:00

Reform will win the next GE. That is is now a given. Andy Burnham is being brought in to ensure that Labour are at least the main opposition party.

It is ABSOLUTELY not a given. This kind of post is really annoying, and makes me wonder if there are lots of bad faith actors on this thread. Reforms moment has, IMHO, already passed. They got beaten in Gorton, they were soundly beaten in Makerfield and it'll be a long time to the next GE (Burnham would be mad to call one before he needs to, and he's not stupid), but our press do love to talk up their chances a lot. Maybe they like rabble rousers and people who incite rioting because it gives them more to report on, but most people just want stability and a decent life. Not division and hate.

concertinacornflake · 22/06/2026 17:40

Lyra25 · 22/06/2026 12:35

Why should he be? He’d be an unelected one and on what manifesto?

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He's just been elected by a constituency.
The Labour Party has a manifesto.

But also, all parties have flexible relationships with their manifesto, that's the UK system.

VividPinkTraybake · 22/06/2026 17:38

rogueone · 22/06/2026 15:10

It’s shocking , he has no mandate and based on returning as an MP after being the mayor for years , he thinks he can skip in and be PM. Don’t think he will be any better than Keir , he is also for the north - not quite sure what that means as he is meant to represent the country

He will have the mandate of PM because he will have the confidence of the house of commons.

I don't know what is worse the people who hate him because he smiles on the day he is going to be sworn in as an MP or the people who think the way we have done things for centuries is some sort of conspiracy.

JimBobsWife · 22/06/2026 17:38

VividPinkTraybake · 22/06/2026 17:16

Jesus christ. Exactly 50% of our prime ministers since 1945 have first come into office in between elections so van we please stop with this being something unusual

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What % of those prime minsters were elected as MPs just days before that?

SeriaMau · 22/06/2026 17:37

Lyra25 · 22/06/2026 12:35

Why should he be? He’d be an unelected one and on what manifesto?

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We don’t vote for Prime Ministers in this country.

SeriaMau · 22/06/2026 17:36

GilesTurnbull · 22/06/2026 12:30

He does look impermeable and not very bright. I’m holding out zero hope.

Impermeable? WTF?

VividPinkTraybake · 22/06/2026 17:35

Legochristmas · 22/06/2026 14:46

Theresa May immediately called an election and lost their majority

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If by immediate you mean 11 months....

nomas · 22/06/2026 17:34

Viviennemary · 22/06/2026 16:59

He's getting on my nerves already. It's all about him and how wonderful he's going to be for the country. That's up to the voters to decide. Not him.

What do you want him to say? That he will be fair to middling for the country?

APageInYourDiary · 22/06/2026 17:29

Lyra25 · 22/06/2026 12:35

Why should he be? He’d be an unelected one and on what manifesto?

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No prime minister is elected by the voters. That’s not how our system works.

VividPinkTraybake · 22/06/2026 17:29

ExtraOnions · 22/06/2026 13:26

…I love the reasoned political debate we have in this country, the way it’s about policies and integrity, rather than how someone looks…

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Exactly, you have to despair for the state of public discourse when people are only interested in "witty" comments about appearances like they are auditioning for a teemu Mock the Week

Stressedandgrey · 22/06/2026 17:28

Greenleavesandsunshine · 22/06/2026 17:21

His eyebrows apparently. Very stupid looking eyebrows.

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Oh.

ExtraOnions · 22/06/2026 17:23

Viviennemary · 22/06/2026 16:59

He's getting on my nerves already. It's all about him and how wonderful he's going to be for the country. That's up to the voters to decide. Not him.

How is that his fault ?

What has he actual said, and what has been assumed, created, summised and made-up by the Media / people on Twitter. ?

Greenleavesandsunshine · 22/06/2026 17:23

@Justusethebloodyphone He’s certainly machinated and plotted, such is the life of democratic politicians. However, he’s not held a gun to anyone’s head and forced them.

Greenleavesandsunshine · 22/06/2026 17:21

Stressedandgrey · 22/06/2026 17:16

What aspects of his appearance strike you as 'not very bright'?

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His eyebrows apparently. Very stupid looking eyebrows.

Justusethebloodyphone · 22/06/2026 17:21

Greenleavesandsunshine · 22/06/2026 17:14

@Justusethebloodyphonehow has he forced anything? Elected as MP. Following Labour Party rules. Who has forced who? Labour MPs could stop it, they are choosing not to. Starmer was advised to leave by his cabinet, he wasn’t taken out the back and beaten up,

Really? You think this all happened by magic?

He had an important political role already (which also needs stability). He has made his desire to be party leader very clear but did not relinquish his mayoral role until a sitting MP resigned specifically to make room for him - with the very clear intention of forcing Starmer to resign or force a leadership battle.

The kind of antics that I voted against.

Stressedandgrey · 22/06/2026 17:19

Favouritefruits · 22/06/2026 14:08

I do! I really like Burnham I think he will be great 😊

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Me too

Stressedandgrey · 22/06/2026 17:16

GilesTurnbull · 22/06/2026 12:30

He does look impermeable and not very bright. I’m holding out zero hope.

What aspects of his appearance strike you as 'not very bright'?

VividPinkTraybake · 22/06/2026 17:16

Lyra25 · 22/06/2026 12:35

Why should he be? He’d be an unelected one and on what manifesto?

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Jesus christ. Exactly 50% of our prime ministers since 1945 have first come into office in between elections so van we please stop with this being something unusual

Greenleavesandsunshine · 22/06/2026 17:16

@Justusethebloodyphone Although, you make an excellent point about the need for stability.