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Original poster

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

391 replies

GarlicBiscuits · 29/06/2026 19:32

A few weeks ago, I’d never heard of this man. A few weeks ago, he wasn’t even an MP.

Yet suddenly, he’s everywhere and going to be our next prime minister? What qualifies him for this role? It seems that all the Labour MPs love him. Why?

The whole situation is very odd to me… I’m not sure it’ll do Labour any favors at all.

OP posts:
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6
TemperanceWest · 01/07/2026 09:52

Bullandbear · 01/07/2026 09:47

I am not pointing to any specific conduct.

My point was, and is - whatever he has done/not done, in relation to the broader grooming gangs issue, will most likely come under fresh scrutiny.

i.e. If he has anything to hide, these things have a nasty habit of coming to light.

Show quote history

@JacketPotatoFoodOfTheGods asked

Why on earth would he have played a “part” in grooming gangs?

You replied

"FGS in terms of his conduct whilst in the HO"

But now you can't back that up. My feeling is that you are just mindlessly spewing Reform attack lines. No surprise there.

BTW AB's HO portfolio had nothing to do with grooming gangs afaics.

Araminta1003 · 01/07/2026 09:49

“This is good as it gets for Burnham.
It’s all downhill from here.”

@Bullandbear - not sure what you mean!
I went to an event yesterday evening with politicians who were in the Cabinet and a former PM. As usual, everyone wants to talk to them, they meet all the most interesting scientists, artists, entrepreneurs, top of that this and other and are wined and dined and invited for life to pretty much anywhere or anything they fancy personally.

If anything, it is only up hill post the actual roles - these ones are still MPs.
Fair few are going to be missing Starmer, especially a lot of Legal because apparently he followed due process and the law. The fact that some politicians don’t follow the legal advice in itself is pretty shocking. We all know Boris Johnson was flying by night when it came to crashing out of the EU and all the many laws in place.
Just hope Burnham is more sensible than Boris Johnson at this point.

Bullandbear · 01/07/2026 09:47

TemperanceWest · 01/07/2026 09:44

Yes, but what conduct are you referring to? His main responsibilities were nothing to do with grooming gangs.

Edited
Show quote history

I am not pointing to any specific conduct.

My point was, and is - whatever he has done/not done, in relation to the broader grooming gangs issue, will most likely come under fresh scrutiny.

i.e. If he has anything to hide, these things have a nasty habit of coming to light.

TemperanceWest · 01/07/2026 09:44

Bullandbear · 01/07/2026 09:43

He was Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office), serving from May 2005 to May 2006.

Show quote history

Yes, but what conduct are you referring to? His main responsibilities were nothing to do with grooming gangs.

Bullandbear · 01/07/2026 09:43

BIossomtoes · 01/07/2026 08:35

What subsequent handling of the grooming gangs? There’s some straw clutching going on here. He was never in the Home Office.

Show quote history

He was Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Home Office), serving from May 2005 to May 2006.

Nuthatch26 · 01/07/2026 09:42

BIossomtoes · 01/07/2026 09:31

It was a Reform attack line before the Makerfield by-election. I’m not going to click on a link to the DM and it appears to be the only news source carrying this story.

Show quote history

Her interviews were covered across various media outlets.
Would you like a link to the Times Radio interview she gave on Andy Burnham?

Loveacadburyscreamegg · 01/07/2026 09:38

When labour won the last general election I told my husband that Andy Burnham would take over from Kier Starmer at some point - I didn’t think it would be so soon. He looks the part more (whatever that means I’m not sure) but he seems to be well liked, is confident and has a good sense of humour. I’m not a labour supporter but am intrigued to watch how it will go.

I remember watching an interview with him a few years ago - he was cooking a curry in his kitchen and seemed quite personable. I like it that despite his job as mayor he seemed very normal and relatable.

TemperanceWest · 01/07/2026 09:37

Bullandbear · 01/07/2026 08:24

FGS, in terms of his conduct whilst in the HO, and during his subsequent handling of the grooming scandal.

Give your noddle a wobble.

Show quote history

Could you set out what you mean about his conduct in the HO?

TemperanceWest · 01/07/2026 09:36

BIossomtoes · 01/07/2026 09:31

It was a Reform attack line before the Makerfield by-election. I’m not going to click on a link to the DM and it appears to be the only news source carrying this story.

Show quote history

This is probably more helpful. It is definitely a Reform attack line.

www.greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/what-we-do/safer-and-stronger-communities/tackling-child-sexual-exploitation/timeline-for-activity-on-child-sexual-exploitation-in-greater-manchester/

ForPlumReader · 01/07/2026 09:35

Can only assume you only take a fleeting interest in politics not to have heard of him.

recoveryforever · 01/07/2026 09:35

He’s speech interestingly was a lot of recycling of what Daisy Cooper has been saying for years. She’s done a really good video on her Facebook page illustrating this with historic clips.

Gallowayan · 01/07/2026 09:32

I actually agree that PMs and Deputy PMs are often plucked by the party selection processes from relative obscurity.

Of the last five PMs only that useless fraud Boris Johnson was particularly well known to the man or woman in the street.

BIossomtoes · 01/07/2026 09:31

TemperanceWest · 01/07/2026 09:27

I keep seeing references to this on X, from the usual suspects and obvious bot accounts. But no-one ever explains what role he played or didn't play.

He was Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the HO for a year. I don't know if grooming gangs was part of his portfolio. Might have a look at Hansard and see what comes up...

Show quote history

It was a Reform attack line before the Makerfield by-election. I’m not going to click on a link to the DM and it appears to be the only news source carrying this story.

Nuthatch26 · 01/07/2026 09:29

BIossomtoes · 01/07/2026 08:35

What subsequent handling of the grooming gangs? There’s some straw clutching going on here. He was never in the Home Office.

Show quote history

No, but he was mayor of GM, also police and crime commissioner for GMP.
Maggie Oliver has a lot to say about Burnham on grooming gangs, none of it good.

https://www.dailymail.com/debate/article-15825933/MAGGIE-OLIVER-Burnham-chance-voice-grooming-gang-victims-wasted-it.html

Burnham wasted the chance to give a voice to grooming gang victims

Over the next month, we're going to hear a lot from Andy Burnham about his role in rooting out the Asian grooming gangs and getting justice for the countless children who were their victims.

https://www.dailymail.com/debate/article-15825933/MAGGIE-OLIVER-Burnham-chance-voice-grooming-gang-victims-wasted-it.html

TemperanceWest · 01/07/2026 09:27

BIossomtoes · 01/07/2026 08:35

What subsequent handling of the grooming gangs? There’s some straw clutching going on here. He was never in the Home Office.

Show quote history

I keep seeing references to this on X, from the usual suspects and obvious bot accounts. But no-one ever explains what role he played or didn't play.

He was Parliamentary Under-Secretary at the HO for a year. I don't know if grooming gangs was part of his portfolio. Might have a look at Hansard and see what comes up...

JacketPotatoFoodOfTheGods · 01/07/2026 09:25

BIossomtoes · 01/07/2026 08:35

What subsequent handling of the grooming gangs? There’s some straw clutching going on here. He was never in the Home Office.

Show quote history

Indeed.

BIossomtoes · 01/07/2026 08:35

Bullandbear · 01/07/2026 08:24

FGS, in terms of his conduct whilst in the HO, and during his subsequent handling of the grooming scandal.

Give your noddle a wobble.

Show quote history

What subsequent handling of the grooming gangs? There’s some straw clutching going on here. He was never in the Home Office.

Bullandbear · 01/07/2026 08:24

JacketPotatoFoodOfTheGods · 01/07/2026 08:12

Why on earth would he have played a “part” in grooming gangs?! Head. Wobble.

Show quote history

FGS, in terms of his conduct whilst in the HO, and during his subsequent handling of the grooming scandal.

Give your noddle a wobble.

JacketPotatoFoodOfTheGods · 01/07/2026 08:13

Diamond7272 · 30/06/2026 22:02

And men in general.... Her love life is a disaster zone.

She also has no qualifications after being an utter dud at school. Bricks are brighter.

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High brow political commentary here 🙄🙄🙄

JacketPotatoFoodOfTheGods · 01/07/2026 08:12

Bullandbear · 01/07/2026 08:04

Quite.

He better pray that Labour retain the Manchester mayoralty. If Reform or the Tories win, they will be seriously digging into his part in the grooming gangs - I hope he’s squeaky clean, for his sake.

Show quote history

Why on earth would he have played a “part” in grooming gangs?! Head. Wobble.

JacketPotatoFoodOfTheGods · 01/07/2026 08:11

Roseonthebalcony · 29/06/2026 19:39

I saw him buying wine in Morrisons a few years ago so he seems alright to me. I’m no politics expert though.

Definitely qualified to run the country then 👍🙌

Bullandbear · 01/07/2026 08:04

EmeraldShamrock000 · 01/07/2026 08:01

He’ll be dragged back down soon enough. The Dailymail are already rooting for anything sinister.
It seems to be the case with most PM’s in the UK now, they don’t last long.

Quite.

He better pray that Labour retain the Manchester mayoralty. If Reform or the Tories win, they will be seriously digging into his part in the grooming gangs - I hope he’s squeaky clean, for his sake.

EmeraldShamrock000 · 01/07/2026 08:01

He’ll be dragged back down soon enough. The Dailymail are already rooting for anything sinister.
It seems to be the case with most PM’s in the UK now, they don’t last long.

Blinky21 · 01/07/2026 07:59

He's been a high profile politician for many years and run as Labour leader twice, he was in Jeremy Corban's shadow cabinet, you having never heard of him is on you

Bullandbear · 01/07/2026 05:51

Diamond7272 · 30/06/2026 22:01

Why is everyone in labour viewing him as the messiah?

Most of Manchester is still a dump and half the towers in Salford have fire and cladding issues?

Show quote history

This is good as it gets for Burnham.

It’s all downhill from here.