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

Margaret Thatcher was a chemist
Tony Blair was a Barrister
John Major was a banker
Rishi Sunak was a banker

True, I agree with that, he did work hard to get justice there. I had forgotten about that, my bad.

Whilst I may have my reservations about how the current govenment have acted to basically oust KS and position AB to be prime minister (it is not usual within labour, the Tories are very well known for this type of behaviour), I do understand their thinking.

I actually have a lot of respect for Keir Starmer and consider he inherited a completely broken country. He was expected to fix this overnight without a raise in taxes, upsetting business who have made huge profits under the last government- many delivering outsourced public services. He had to deal with the populist rhetoric that all of our problems are down to immigration rather than the previous government's austerity progranme etc. and the legacy of the shit show that was Brexit and the huge devision populist politicians have created within the UK.

I am hopeful in that Andy Burnham has pubically recognised the above, and also that regions outside of London need autonomy to make decisions. I live in Leeds, which is a thriving city, the biggest centre for law and finance outside of London. There is also a huge student population due to 3 universities and internationally acclaimed dance and music schools.

The previous government cut central funding to my local authority by 10s of millions every year. At the same time, many statutory services needed by our most vulnerable were outsourced to private companies who make huge profits. I consider this a national scandal- a placement for a vulnerable teenager often costs the LA and the tax payer £10 000 a month and can easily be a lot more. Just one example of how public funds have been mismanaged for years, making money out of our most vulnerable.

Also, although the impact was not positive overall from my point of view, Mrs Thatcher had a huge impact and will be remembered for quite some time to come.

To be fair I should have said "had a go at" "been keen on the idea" "others have suggested" rather than "tipped" but hes certainly not suddenly appeared as a prospect from nowhere. Not that Im a fan tbh.
I have felt politically homeless now since about 2018. No plans to vote Labour again until they understand what a woman is and is not.

Winston Churchill
Clement Attlee

On the BBC yesterday there was some speculation that David Miliband could come back from the US, be elevated to the Lords and become Foreign Secretary. I'd be in favour of this if it meant that Ed Miliband won't become Chancellor.

Yeah but why not just do a quick Google before announcing to the world you're ill informed?

Thats hardly revision

I think you will find the families of Hillsborough victims would question your view about his only redeeming feature
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/sep/16/hillsborough-andy-burnham

i am pretty certain this was a huge achievement

Can you name a prime minister who did?

Not strange at all. Sunak lost a leadership election but won a second time with no opposition.

It’s all about timing.

Whoops soz

Sudden? Maybe if you looked outside your front door occasionally…

Really? He's lost two previous bids to be leader of the Labour party... not sure what's changed now suddenly that he's got a free pass to be the Prime Minister after only being an MP for a day or two. No opposition. It seems very strange.

I have mixed feelings on Starmer. From the manifesto he has done a lot. The media wanted his downfall and his lack of charisma aided that. However he has also done some really shit stuff and I don’t like him and never voted for him and probably never would. I agree that Starmer was threatened by Burnham.

As I said on another head though, so I like Burnham? No. Do I want him? No. Am I praying that he is amazing and I eat my own words and prevents Farage, who is utterly fucking useless from getting the PM position and squeezing this country for every single penny he can get? Absolutely-fucking-lutely. I hope I am wrong and he is amazing because the alternative is too scary.

Can't argue with that either.

I must admit I'm a bit concerned about the latest announcements of major structural changes to government when he doesn't have a manifesto mandate for them. I wouldn't normally join the chorus calling for a new election but this makes me want to.

I’m not massively into politics but I feel that I have known about Burnham forever.

He's a career politician and a Blairite. I'm to the left generally, but can't imagine this is the answer to anyone's problems ... But there you go.

Love this. Their wine is terrible but it somehow makes me like him more.

It hasn't come out of nowhere but it is why KS prevented him from standing as a candidate in the Gorton and Denton by-election. If he had won there, I think they would have worked alongside each other until much nearer the GE, KS is the instrument of his own downfall. He showed very poor judgement for the umpteenth time.

Regardless of your political position, it’s surprising you hadn’t heard of him. He has been a senior Mp previously, and was Secretary of State for health.

Hang on, so some people have actual friends in London? That they can talk to and everything? Gosh, really? Sure they’re not lizards in disguise? You make it sound like you can actually get there in less than six months.

And that worked out so well….

This is a hilariously bonkers take. Someone doesnt understand the different flavours of socialism within the Labour Party.