To find Andy Burnham’s sudden rise to the top odd?

The danger he needs to avoid is believing his own publicity that he is some sort of saviour.
From initial impressions he seeks to govern for some and not all. He seeks to offload responsibility to local Councils for key decisions.

This is what I first think of too.
He’s been around since late 1990s and was elected for the first time in 2001. Hardly a newcomer.

I became aware of him after seeing this - I thought his reaction was humble and genuine. And he launched the second Hillsborough enquiry the next day. I think he was culture secretary at the time - so he’s not inexperienced in cabinet. That inquiry was the one that changed the official view of that disaster.

None of that might impact how you see him but it does show he’s really not a new kid on the block.

He has been a minister!
What is so difficult to grasp about that sentence?

sadly, I too think this is the beginning of a full scale disaster. Someone who has sorted out buses in Manchester probably isn't quite ready for international negotiations or much else for that matter.
and before all you Mancunians pile in, I do
know he’s done rather more than that for Manchester but ……..

Arf arf.

Have a look at this OP

Have you ever seen a politician handed their own arse by 30 000 scousers?

And then come back 5 years later after changes were made?

He’s been sniffing around for 20 years. Never good enough to shine though.

He did not just appear from nowhere. He has been a minister and he has ran for Labour leader at least twice. Of course the Labour MPs know him.
He was not in Parliament and I find it odd that he seems to have no contest. There seem to be a full agreement within Labour and he is unopposed. At least, that is what the press is presenting. I am just hoping that none of this gets to his head and he does not become arrogant and takes things for granted. I have heard speaking and he does not sound arrogant at all. Fingers crossed it does not get to his head.
On one hand, it is good to see Labour united, finally. Hopefully they will be able to agree things amongst themselves before talking to the press or Parliament, avoiding endless U-turns.
On the other hand, I was hoping for Labour to lead a deep debate about where UK is, their manifesto and how to get things moving for UK. And I am a bit wary that this may not happen when the winner is already chosen.
We shall see. I am willing to give Labour a full on chance. But the very last one, that is.

I certainly don’t think he is unqualifed for the job and didn’t suggest he was. In fact, I feel really hopeful that he might do well. But his parliamentary career was in a different era as far as politics goes, and in that context of recent experience it is correct to say that he has only just become an MP ( I should have said ‘again’) Again, I don’t think that is necessarily a bad thing, I just noted it felt odd/unusual for anyone to be made PM in these circumstances.

Andy B has previously tried to be elected Labour leader. And not been voted in. He left as an MP to become mayor of Manchester.
Andy B has what Keir Starmer lacked. An ability to sell an idea. To galvanise the team.

What matters next is what ideas he is selling and what team he is galvanising.

I like some of his plans and dislike others. If he picks Angela R to be anywhere in his top team he will have made an error.
The reason he is now presented as PM is because Labour are terrified of losing large numbers of seats and therefore jobs. And think he will save them.

@Settlersa , I do rather tire of the focus on him representing 'the North', when it appears to be referring to Manchester and surrounds.

As someone who hails from the North East originally (but now lives in the South), I was aware of him but that's mainly due to age,
from the Blair government. From my experience of returning there frequently to visit family, I'm not sure he's someone who is particularly relevant to the rural community of Northumberland (nor, I would imagine, to those of Cumbria or Yorkshire).

A grooming gang apologist and advocate of men in womens spaces
What's not to like?

The opinion of the parliamentary Labour Party. People like you wouldn’t approve of any Labour PM on principle.

He only cares about his beloved Manchester, he should have just stayed as Mayor

He’s the best for the job.

Premised on what, please?

If you truly believe that, you should report the thread.

You will not, though.

No it doesn’t. It shows pragmatism. He’s the best for the job, the parliamentary party wants him and they’re not going to waste time with a contest that’s a forgone conclusion.

How unpleasantly condescending

Things are currently as good as they will ever be for Burnham.

It’s all downhill from here (as we know).

I think it is a big mistake that he is likely to become prime minister without an internal Labour election, so he can clearly define his policies.

If things start to go wrong, his path to the top will definitely be bought up as a negative.

Has he, really?

When/where?

He’s not ‘only just become an MP’ though! He was an MP for almost 20 years, and a cabinet minister…he’s hardly unqualified for the job ffs!

Do you work in Hospitality ?

That’s some HUGE fucking rock you’ve been living under OP?

He’s had massive, highly publicised, success as Mayor of Manchester for YEARS!

This one’s on you! 🤦‍♀️🤯