Page 7 | To find Andy Burnham’s sudden rise to the top odd?

GarlicBiscuits · 2026-06-29T18:32:03+00:00

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.

Bullandbear · 30/06/2026 10:14

TemperanceWest · 30/06/2026 09:19

Oh, hello. I thought I recognised the posting style!

Are you saying Truss wasn't a disaster?

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As I recognise yours after your hiatus.

PS.

Bullandbear · 30/06/2026 10:12

BIossomtoes · 30/06/2026 09:22

Only 30 year gilts. Five and ten years are lower.

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What are you talking about?

Would you like to try again?

TemperanceWest · 30/06/2026 10:12

Clavinova · 30/06/2026 10:06

I'm voting Conservative!!

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Wasted vote😄

Apologies, but going by some of your recent posts I genuinely thought you had switched allegiances to Farage.

BrandiedAromatics · 30/06/2026 10:09

@GarlicBiscuits
This is a short article to get you up to scratch before the recent re-emergence:

When Burnham lost the 2015 leadership race to Jeremy Corbyn, he was not a household name to those outside of politics.
Then in 2017, the job to become Greater Manchester’s first mayor came along and he sensed the opportunity for an alternative political career path

Why Andy Burnham's winning formula might not work outside of the North

EasternStandard · 30/06/2026 10:09

Clavinova · 30/06/2026 10:06

I'm voting Conservative!!

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Of course, that’s known, ik this from your posts.

Clavinova · 30/06/2026 10:08

BrandiedAromatics · 30/06/2026 09:58

I always think of Starmer in Bucha, Ukraine, and think how he would be an eminent legal mind to have on the world stage re: war crimes. My feeling is he would represent the UK really well in that way.

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eminent legal mind

I would describe Keir Starmer as a plodder.

Clavinova · 30/06/2026 10:06

TemperanceWest · 30/06/2026 09:53

Stop trying to derail the thread!

What's wrong Clav? Worried your man Farage might have run out of road?

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I'm voting Conservative!!

Clavinova · 30/06/2026 10:06

Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g · 29/06/2026 21:34

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.

some speculation that David Miliband could come back from the US, be elevated to the Lords and become Foreign Secretary

I'm not sure that is such a good idea - he failed last time;

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/06/30/why-anyone-disastrous-david-miliband-second-chance/

Immature all round, apparently:

https://metro.co.uk/2013/02/08/labour-mp-david-miliband-caught-napping-on-tube-with-his-trouser-zip-undone-3398887/

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/blog/2010/jan/11/harsh-words-for-david-miliband

Badbadbunny · 30/06/2026 10:06

Araminta1003 · 30/06/2026 09:56

He wants Britain to get working and hopeful again and will start with the fat cats in Westminster having to deliver and actually work rather than just bullshit and argue. At least, that is what I heard.

Nail on the head as to what's needed to turn the country around. We need to get people working again, it's the ONLY way to grow the economy.

Monty36 · 30/06/2026 09:59

Araminta1003 · 30/06/2026 09:56

He wants Britain to get working and hopeful again and will start with the fat cats in Westminster having to deliver and actually work rather than just bullshit and argue. At least, that is what I heard.

Who do you mean ?
Are there any fat cats anywhere in the North I wonder ?

BrandiedAromatics · 30/06/2026 09:58

MrsShawnHatosy · 30/06/2026 09:55

I think Burnham could do worse than appoint him as Foreign Secretary.

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I always think of Starmer in Bucha, Ukraine, and think how he would be an eminent legal mind to have on the world stage re: war crimes. My feeling is he would represent the UK really well in that way.

Araminta1003 · 30/06/2026 09:56

He wants Britain to get working and hopeful again and will start with the fat cats in Westminster having to deliver and actually work rather than just bullshit and argue. At least, that is what I heard.

MrsShawnHatosy · 30/06/2026 09:55

BrandiedAromatics · 30/06/2026 09:53

Yes, he had a very important job outside of politics. Which is why he had already been knighted. I think he will be appreciated in an important job in the international arena.

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I think Burnham could do worse than appoint him as Foreign Secretary.

Araminta1003 · 30/06/2026 09:54

Well Burnham has no money to spend - so from that point of view, it is relevant.

TemperanceWest · 30/06/2026 09:53

Clavinova · 30/06/2026 09:49

Why did Alistair Darling spoil the joke?

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Stop trying to derail the thread!

What's wrong Clav? Worried your man Farage might have run out of road?

BrandiedAromatics · 30/06/2026 09:53

MrsShawnHatosy · 30/06/2026 09:46

Keir Starmer, actually.

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Yes, he had a very important job outside of politics. Which is why he had already been knighted. I think he will be appreciated in an important job in the international arena.

TemperanceWest · 30/06/2026 09:51

Clavinova · 30/06/2026 09:48

Liam Byrne was not the Chancellor - Alistair Darling was;

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/mar/25/alistair-darling-cut-deeper-margaret-thatcher

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Liam Byrne left the note you mentioned. I am really not sure why you are dragging all this into a thread about Burnham, though. But please yourself.

Clavinova · 30/06/2026 09:49

AlwaysExtraHot · 30/06/2026 09:42

Is this old saw really still going?
That was a joke.

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Why did Alistair Darling spoil the joke?

TallSturdyGirls · 30/06/2026 09:48

TheyGrewUp · 29/06/2026 19:46

The far left want a kindred spirit. That's why. Except for being Mayor of Manchester, what exactly has he done? Has he ever had a job outside politics?

I am sure he will be remembered for a very long time and will have greater impact than a lettuce.

If you think he's Far Left i think you need to go back to politics school.
In what way do you think he's far left?!

Clavinova · 30/06/2026 09:48

TemperanceWest · 30/06/2026 09:39

Oh seriously Clav. That one is so old it has grown a beard.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/may/09/liam-byrne-apology-letter-there-is-no-money-labour-general-election

Edited

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Liam Byrne was not the Chancellor - Alistair Darling was;

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/mar/25/alistair-darling-cut-deeper-margaret-thatcher

Alistair Darling: we will cut deeper than Margaret Thatcher

Thinktank warns of 'two parliaments of pain' with spending slashed by 25% to repair black hole in finances

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/mar/25/alistair-darling-cut-deeper-margaret-thatcher

Araminta1003 · 30/06/2026 09:47

“No individual was. US irresponsible lending was.”
The AI US overspend and hype currently is even worse.
Whoever is PM needs to look at likely fallout of the AI bubble crashing massively.

We need a PM in quickly. No point in wasting time. It is just uncertainty.

Can’t say I am a particular Burnham or Labour or Con fan. Tend to float or vote LibDem.
Am a millennial/Gen X cusp. Had not heard of Burnham until a few months ago. Then he was catapulted into the limelight.

What is most fascinating is that the press started obsessing about him and now he is refusing to take their questions. I rather like that! I would much rather a PM who communicates directly with the public not via the media. So if he gets that right, I am in.
He has big ideas but zero money to spend so exactly how he is going to do this is anyone’s guess. But the fact he was out of the toxic Westminster bubble for some years is a good thing, in my opinion.
The entire of Westminster is run good cop/bad cop Oxbridge style with no real substance and delivery and I am sick and tired of it!

MrsShawnHatosy · 30/06/2026 09:46

BoredZelda · 29/06/2026 21:28

Can you name a prime minister who did?

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Keir Starmer, actually.

DilettanteRedRagger · 30/06/2026 09:43

I think the most amusing thing to me is that apparently all these people whinging about how long it’s been since he was an MP, are somehow forgetting that he took the time he wasn’t an MP to be the mayor that turned Manchester into a place that houses more knowledge-intensive businesses than anywhere except London.

I don’t expect everyone to agree with him, but when you focus on petty things, you look uneducated at best (“he hasn’t even been at Westminster lately! What did he waste his time doing?!?” Uh, the answer to that is revitalizing Manchester as its mayor?)

Every Northerner I’ve spoken to very cautiously thinks he might do good things, and it seems like half the Southerners I’ve talked to just go, “I don’t get this Andy Burnham thing.” So… you haven’t been reading UK-wide news for the last decade? That’s rough. You have a lot of catching up to do before you can share an opinion based on political reality. ♥️

AlwaysExtraHot · 30/06/2026 09:42

Clavinova · 30/06/2026 09:33

To add, Labour's Chief Secretary to the Treasury left a note during Boris Johnson's first term as London Mayor;

"Dear [incoming] Chief Secretary, I'm afraid there is no money...

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Is this old saw really still going?
That was a joke.

TemperanceWest · 30/06/2026 09:39

Clavinova · 30/06/2026 09:33

To add, Labour's Chief Secretary to the Treasury left a note during Boris Johnson's first term as London Mayor;

"Dear [incoming] Chief Secretary, I'm afraid there is no money...

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Oh seriously Clav. That one is so old it has grown a beard.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/may/09/liam-byrne-apology-letter-there-is-no-money-labour-general-election