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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:
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,

Greenleavesandsunshine · 22/06/2026 17:12

@ElenOfTheWays And you’re a smelly poo head. If we’re at this level of political debate why don’t we get right down to year 2 playground politics. I don’t mind a bit of invective but could you at the very least make a political point first?

Justusethebloodyphone · 22/06/2026 17:11

Pansykavalier · 22/06/2026 16:59

This thread is so depressing…

Why?

I voted Labour.

i wanted stability and for the actual job of government to be taken seriously. I didn’t want infighting and distractions and egos.

I didn’t vote for an MP representing Andy Burnham as leader and he is forcing his way into the position which is exactly what I was voting against.

ElenOfTheWays · 22/06/2026 17:10

IAmBeaIDrinkTea · 22/06/2026 12:31

This. For crying out loud 😁
Has he even been made PM yet?!

No. But he's already acting as if he is or at least that it's a foregone conclusion. Smug doesn't even begin to cover it. Arrogant prick

Greenleavesandsunshine · 22/06/2026 17:08

@FlyingApple so what changes would you make to the constitution, because if you want a presidential system we would need wholesale change. It’s not one small tweak, we’d have to go back to basics and rebuild. If a change of PM means a GE, then the parliamentary system would no longer function. In fact it would be very dangerous as the life of one person would hold the whole country to ransom. PMs could use it to hold parliament to ransom, do X or I will resign. It’s a very dangerous suggestion.

Greenleavesandsunshine · 22/06/2026 17:05

@BlueRedCat We have a Parliamentary system and Parliament decides what becomes law. Parliament can check/stop the PM at any time. That’s the democratic accountability.
Also, we have cabinet government where the PM is primus inter pares (fist amount equals) the cabinet lends democratic legitimacy to the PM.
If we had a presidential system then there could be an argument to have another election, but that doesn’t happen in a lot of presidential systems.

TheGospelAccordingToMe · 22/06/2026 17:03

💯

FlyingApple · 22/06/2026 17:02

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

Greenleavesandsunshine · 22/06/2026 17:00

Ahhh @Clavinovahas arrived. He said there should be a GE not why. He may be hypocrite or he may have just want a GE to get rid of the Tories. The same way you probably wanted a GE last week, and want one this week because you want the government gone.
My point was he understand the system - he does.

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.

Pansykavalier · 22/06/2026 16:59

This thread is so depressing…

BlueRedCat · 22/06/2026 16:57

Greenleavesandsunshine · 22/06/2026 16:54

@mellongoose the voters in his constituency asked him lots of questions. I saw/heard him on several hustings, question time events. He campaigned in his constituency and apparently every house was knocked on 6 times by Labour Party campaigners.

Im assuming your version of democracy is we vote for every change in government, every change in policy, everything that is different to the manifesto. This doesn’t work, it doesn’t allow for planning or difficult decisions. Checks are put in place to distance politicians from the whims of the public - that’s a misquote of Alexander Hamilton, the guy from the musical.

But this version of democracy is that his manifesto was voted on by only the people of Makerfield (and in fact they are only people who know what his personal manifesto is!) and the rest of the entire Uk is bound by it. That is slightly different to slight variations in government policy.

Greenleavesandsunshine · 22/06/2026 16:54

@mellongoose the voters in his constituency asked him lots of questions. I saw/heard him on several hustings, question time events. He campaigned in his constituency and apparently every house was knocked on 6 times by Labour Party campaigners.

Im assuming your version of democracy is we vote for every change in government, every change in policy, everything that is different to the manifesto. This doesn’t work, it doesn’t allow for planning or difficult decisions. Checks are put in place to distance politicians from the whims of the public - that’s a misquote of Alexander Hamilton, the guy from the musical.

pointythings · 22/06/2026 16:53

nomas · 22/06/2026 16:34

People won’t be satisfied unless the next Labour leader is the second coming of Jesus and even then they will find him wanting.

People won't be satisfied until Kemi Badenoch is PM, or for some on here, Nigel Farage. Because they think Right to Rule means... well, Right.

Stella1366 · 22/06/2026 16:52

GilesTurnbull · 22/06/2026 13:18

It would it be great if they could find a poc and put them in as leader, even if there’s no-one suitable. Just having a darker skin colour person in charge would placate a lot of people, regardless of their ability.

There's always David Lammy. But, no, if course not. People don't like him either.

Horses7 · 22/06/2026 16:51

GilesTurnbull · 22/06/2026 12:30

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

He went to Cambridge University from a state school in the 80s so can’t be completely dumb ….. although I’m not a big fan of AB

Greenleavesandsunshine · 22/06/2026 16:49

@Sensiblesal the conversation had been had about 10 posts earlier! It’s already been explained on this thread - I don’t know how many times me and other people can say this.

Yes, people may vote for a pig with a blue/rosette on it. They think they are voting for a party but they aren’t. I am not incorrect in my explanation of the system, we vote for people. What you are saying is many do not understand the system and vote for a party, yes that’s what’s happens (nice and loud for those at the back) but it doesn’t change the system, we vote for people.

TheAutumnCrow · 22/06/2026 16:48

KateSixer · 22/06/2026 16:44

He reminds me of a Thunderbird puppet. Was it Vergil?

Shiny and an improbable smile!

Maybe Virgil crossed with Brains without the personality to match. And they were puppets.

I think it’s more like getting Starmer who’s sloughed off his skin and that’s what’s underneath.

Allseeingallknowing · 22/06/2026 16:45

Pedallleur · 22/06/2026 16:40

He needs to call a GE NOW!!!
Good to know that even though he isn't a candidate ATM that the hate is commencing. What do people actually want?

No! Too much to lose!

KateSixer · 22/06/2026 16:44

He reminds me of a Thunderbird puppet. Was it Vergil?

Shiny and an improbable smile!

Pedallleur · 22/06/2026 16:43

nomas · 22/06/2026 16:34

People won’t be satisfied unless the next Labour leader is the second coming of Jesus and even then they will find him wanting.

All that love thy neighbour and feeding thousands? That can't be good. But we won't need the NHS as he will be curing the sick. Don't know what the policy is on IHT but we may have to render unto Caesar what is due.

Pedallleur · 22/06/2026 16:40

AmberSpy · 22/06/2026 12:29

Shall we let the man have five minutes in office before we start tearing him to shreds?

He needs to call a GE NOW!!!
Good to know that even though he isn't a candidate ATM that the hate is commencing. What do people actually want?

canonlydoblue · 22/06/2026 16:40

I have no hope in anyone who denies biological reality.

HelenaWaiting · 22/06/2026 16:37

troothfairy · 22/06/2026 15:28

Aye lass, everything what we know up north comes from pigeons and whippets. It’s difficult without electricity and we can’t learn owt when down t’pit, but we’re getting there.

I heard we would be getting the leccy once the latest scrofula epidemic is under control.

nomas · 22/06/2026 16:34

People won’t be satisfied unless the next Labour leader is the second coming of Jesus and even then they will find him wanting.

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