Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think his speech sounded too parochial for a leader?

115 replies

lightseeker · 29/06/2026 20:40

I listened to Andy Burnham's speech today and all he talked about was devolution to the regions. I mean ok, fine, by all means give that a go. But, do people think he sounds like a national leader? What about international policy - the Middle East or Ukraine? What about sustainable energy transitions? What is his stance on developing closer relations with the EU? What about the economy? What is his global vision? It will take a lot more than building more council houses and giving out free bus passes. AIBU - the man is sounding way too parochial?

OP posts:
PenelopeJoanSterling · 30/06/2026 08:06

lightseeker · 29/06/2026 20:40

I listened to Andy Burnham's speech today and all he talked about was devolution to the regions. I mean ok, fine, by all means give that a go. But, do people think he sounds like a national leader? What about international policy - the Middle East or Ukraine? What about sustainable energy transitions? What is his stance on developing closer relations with the EU? What about the economy? What is his global vision? It will take a lot more than building more council houses and giving out free bus passes. AIBU - the man is sounding way too parochial?

this is the general public he is talking too,

Octavia64 · 30/06/2026 08:06

I think we could do with a bit of focus on the U.K.

we’re not in the eu anymore and that’s last decade’s battle. Yes defence spending needs sorting but honestly so does the Uk generally.

i liked his speech and I don’t normally vote Labour

Greenleavesandsunshine · 30/06/2026 08:04

Swiftie1878 · 30/06/2026 07:53

Have you been to Manchester recent?!

Show quote history

That’s the trouble, Manchester is one of the few areas of the country that is thriving and people don’t pay attention as it’s not London. AB wants what he’s done in Manchester to spread to other regions. If it only works in half of the areas it would be better for than what is happening now.

Greenleavesandsunshine · 30/06/2026 08:03

Anarchy99 · 30/06/2026 07:44

Well his plan is going to create more division

Show quote history

How? One of the things AB has done in Manchester is work with other parties, that’s why he won the mayoral election resoundingly because people who supported other parties voted for him. Coalition frequently works in local authorities, smaller parties have more of a voice. Yes, tha sometimes means Reform councils but that’s democracy for you.

There areas to be at least one person seeking to divide and that person would be you.

Swiftie1878 · 30/06/2026 07:53

lightseeker · 29/06/2026 21:01

But will devolution work, do we think? Local councils are not exactly renowned for their dynamism.

Have you been to Manchester recent?!

ALovelyPinkUnicorn · 30/06/2026 07:53

Bjorkdidit · 30/06/2026 05:35

Exactly. More investment and opportunities for other parts of the UK and reduced demand for housing and services in London/SE.

People won't think they 'have' to move to London to get a good job and young people who already live there won't be competing with so many other people for housing. Win win.

Show quote history

I feel there’s a song about this…
are most of those up in arms and aghast about this from London?

Premier League Football GIF by Play Sports
LuckyHazelFox · 30/06/2026 07:52

Indianajet · 30/06/2026 07:47

How about we give him a chance?

He's being given a massive chance already - one many of us didn't vote for.

Indianajet · 30/06/2026 07:47

How about we give him a chance?

Anarchy99 · 30/06/2026 07:44

Onceuponatimethen · 30/06/2026 06:24

Love Andy Burnham personally and there will be plenty of other speeches. We need a fresh start and hopefully he will have a more surefooted approach and a more sensible policy slate than Starmer has done.

Anything which reduces divisions in the UK has to be good given the current climate of polarisation and I actually like the devolution ideas from that point of view.

Well his plan is going to create more division

Zapx · 30/06/2026 07:44

MsGreying · 29/06/2026 22:53

It's expensive and doesn't provide any benefit to the taxpayer

Show quote history

I agree. I hate devolution in a local council sense. A family member gets a fairly substantial care package for respite care. They’ve just moved house and changed council. The ENTIRE thing has to be redone under the new council- loads of assessments, loads of letters from many professionals, doctors, social workers etc. Lots of stress. It’s just been completed as the same pay award as the previous council. What a waste of everyone’s time…

LuckyHazelFox · 30/06/2026 07:26

DollydaydreamTheThird · 29/06/2026 22:15

It's working in Manchester! Only city to have growth. I'm so grateful we got the chance to have more local governance. Andy was great during COVID and I have a lot of respect for him as a politician and what he has achieved as mayor. He gives 15% of mayoral salary to fight homelessness and will do the same as MP for Ashton in M with local causes. I'm not sure that is something a Tory or Reform candidate could aspire to. Give him a chance to change things, he's not even in post yet!

Show quote history

Will you be happy to pay for the extra security he's going to need for being part time from Downing Street? The man is an arrogant prat.

Onceuponatimethen · 30/06/2026 06:24

Love Andy Burnham personally and there will be plenty of other speeches. We need a fresh start and hopefully he will have a more surefooted approach and a more sensible policy slate than Starmer has done.

Anything which reduces divisions in the UK has to be good given the current climate of polarisation and I actually like the devolution ideas from that point of view.

Bjorkdidit · 30/06/2026 05:35

coronafiona · 29/06/2026 22:31

I think moving to a less London centric economy is better for everyone, and I hope this is the start of it. But yes he does need to communicate about the wider issues too.

Exactly. More investment and opportunities for other parts of the UK and reduced demand for housing and services in London/SE.

People won't think they 'have' to move to London to get a good job and young people who already live there won't be competing with so many other people for housing. Win win.

JennyForeigner · 29/06/2026 23:50

I hold no brief for Andy B, but where 9.9/10 stories are about London without a breath of dissent, you don't get to dismiss the 0.1 as 'parochial' just because it has outside of the M25 cooties.

concertinacornflake · 29/06/2026 23:02

WhatFreshHelll · 29/06/2026 22:58

The arrogance as well !
I hope he puts his new mandate to the public vote !

I suspect the opposition parties would rather he didn't just yet as 'building more houses and improving living standards across the regions' probably sounds quite positive!

They'd rather he waited til any poll bounce has worn off.

WhatFreshHelll · 29/06/2026 22:58

The arrogance as well !
I hope he puts his new mandate to the public vote !

concertinacornflake · 29/06/2026 22:57

MsGreying · 29/06/2026 22:53

It's expensive and doesn't provide any benefit to the taxpayer

Show quote history

What's expensive?

WhatFreshHelll · 29/06/2026 22:57

There will be no opportunity for any devlution if Russia takes a pop at us and we literally cannot defend ourselves ,which is exactly where we stand :right now.
Two important gov ministers have resigned over this !!!

MsGreying · 29/06/2026 22:53

lightseeker · 29/06/2026 21:01

But will devolution work, do we think? Local councils are not exactly renowned for their dynamism.

It's expensive and doesn't provide any benefit to the taxpayer

concertinacornflake · 29/06/2026 22:41

Anarchy99 · 29/06/2026 22:35

Isn’t Manchester one of the most renovated places in the country?

He needs to understand there is more to England than London and Manchester.

He does understand this. For starters he's from Liverpool.

But also, I imagine he went to school, has been to other parts of the country and may even have read a book about the UK.

Pearlstillsinging · 29/06/2026 22:40

concertinacornflake · 29/06/2026 22:07

What do you mean by dynamism, how are you defining that?

Councils used to have more powers pre-Thatcher - do you have much knowledge of local democracy pre-1980s?

How dynamic do you consider Whitehall in 2026 to be?

Excessive centralisation is not a positive in terms of democracy.

Show quote history

And the last Tory gvt(s) continued to strip local councils of funding and authority/ influence whilst leaving g the responsibility for performance with them, see Education and MATs for example.

Anarchy99 · 29/06/2026 22:37

BotterMon · 29/06/2026 22:32

He sounds like he wants to be everyone's mate. I'm just pissed off that we have yet another unelected PM being foisted upon us. The elected ones have been bad enough but the replacements even worse.

We don’t elect Prime Ministers in this country. We elect MPs to represent us in parliament and the leader of the party with the most seats goes to the king and is asked to form a government.

So none of our PMs have been ‘elected’ directly as we aren’t in the US.

Anarchy99 · 29/06/2026 22:35

Isn’t Manchester one of the most renovated places in the country?

He needs to understand there is more to England than London and Manchester.

Pieceofpurplesky · 29/06/2026 22:33

And so it starts. Maybe give him a chance to actually have time to produce his manifesto/policies.

BotterMon · 29/06/2026 22:32

He sounds like he wants to be everyone's mate. I'm just pissed off that we have yet another unelected PM being foisted upon us. The elected ones have been bad enough but the replacements even worse.

Swipe left for the next trending thread