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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to think Andy Burnham might call a general election soon?

664 replies

Mywishistoclimbthe3peaks · 20/07/2026 00:56

To think Andy Burnham will call a general election before Christmas? Yes it would be a massive roll of the dice but,

Reform - don't have the numbers for a GE and there's all frog faces suspicious money bringing him a lot of heat.

Torys - kemi doesn't have a lot of depth, I feel and she hasn't changed much in the polls. She's good at the dispatch box but let's face it anyone could stand up and insult the other side.

By calling a GE Andy would have his own mandate and break the deadlock of the back benchers.

Not being unreasonable = he needs to call a GE

Your being unreasonable = Robotic Kier and Ratchet Reeves have gone and Andy just needs to get on with it now.

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BermudaRhombus · 20/07/2026 19:04

LuckyHazelFox · 20/07/2026 18:58

Although it's quite impressive how non specialists fit nicely into their new positions - with a few exceptions.

Or do they? Is the reason that we’re a failing nation partly down to this crazy system of governance where, for example, you can have a former fireplace salesman suddenly acting as education secretary?

igelkott2026 · 20/07/2026 19:01

BermudaRhombus · 20/07/2026 18:57

It’s quite crazy when you stop and think about it. The constant reshuffling of woefully under qualified people into leadership positions in departments they frequently know absolutely nothing about. Some of them seem to repeatedly fail upwards ( who remembers Grayling and Williamson?)

Yes we were just talking about this. I know the civil servants actually run things but how can you really be on top of your brief if you never have long enough to learn it?

At least Mahmood is staying as home secretary.

EasternStandard · 20/07/2026 19:00

BrownBookshelf · 20/07/2026 18:58

Yes you have. There is no context that can explain why a pattern of complaining that already existed and a trend towards social media usage that was long established before the last administration could possibly have had the scene set by a group of people on Mumsnet in 2021-22.

Of course there is. Have you really not noticed the recent up tick in SM political backlash?

BrownBookshelf · 20/07/2026 18:59

Mywishistoclimbthe3peaks · 20/07/2026 18:55

I absolutely love analysing the tactics of politics 🤓 I would love to be a politician but they would eat me alive. I wouldn't last a day 🤣

Oof I couldn't think of anything worse! Too much visibility for my liking, and that's even as someone quite extroverted.

LuckyHazelFox · 20/07/2026 18:58

BermudaRhombus · 20/07/2026 18:57

It’s quite crazy when you stop and think about it. The constant reshuffling of woefully under qualified people into leadership positions in departments they frequently know absolutely nothing about. Some of them seem to repeatedly fail upwards ( who remembers Grayling and Williamson?)

Although it's quite impressive how non specialists fit nicely into their new positions - with a few exceptions.

BrownBookshelf · 20/07/2026 18:58

EasternStandard · 20/07/2026 18:55

No I haven’t. You just missed the post I responded to and context.

Yes you have. There is no context that can explain why a pattern of complaining that already existed and a trend towards social media usage that was long established before the last administration could possibly have had the scene set by a group of people on Mumsnet in 2021-22.

BermudaRhombus · 20/07/2026 18:57

It’s quite crazy when you stop and think about it. The constant reshuffling of woefully under qualified people into leadership positions in departments they frequently know absolutely nothing about. Some of them seem to repeatedly fail upwards ( who remembers Grayling and Williamson?)

Mywishistoclimbthe3peaks · 20/07/2026 18:55

BrownBookshelf · 20/07/2026 18:49

You were more prescient than me!

I absolutely love analysing the tactics of politics 🤓 I would love to be a politician but they would eat me alive. I wouldn't last a day 🤣

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EasternStandard · 20/07/2026 18:55

BrownBookshelf · 20/07/2026 18:47

No it doesn't, or you'd have been able to explain it by now instead of goalpost moving. And once again, if there being news happening is a reason not to post about this, you'd have stopped by now.

Words have meanings. You used these ones wrongly.

No I haven’t. You just missed the post I responded to and context.

Mywishistoclimbthe3peaks · 20/07/2026 18:50

CagneyLacey · 20/07/2026 18:48

Any word on Philipson, or Rayner?

Not yet

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BrownBookshelf · 20/07/2026 18:49

Mywishistoclimbthe3peaks · 20/07/2026 18:47

@BrownBookshelf same I'm not that up with him. Just had a quick Google and he was a junior minister under Blair/Brown. He's been in politics for a long time. When he resigned I said to dh then he's been offered a deal with Burnham.

You were more prescient than me!

CagneyLacey · 20/07/2026 18:48

Any word on Philipson, or Rayner?

BrownBookshelf · 20/07/2026 18:47

EasternStandard · 20/07/2026 18:42

Yes it does. I’m not writing a prime ministerial speech, you just got bogged down for no reason.

When there’s actual news happening.

No it doesn't, or you'd have been able to explain it by now instead of goalpost moving. And once again, if there being news happening is a reason not to post about this, you'd have stopped by now.

Words have meanings. You used these ones wrongly.

Mywishistoclimbthe3peaks · 20/07/2026 18:47

@BrownBookshelf same I'm not that up with him. Just had a quick Google and he was a junior minister under Blair/Brown. He's been in politics for a long time. When he resigned I said to dh then he's been offered a deal with Burnham.

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LuckyHazelFox · 20/07/2026 18:47

Binnyforthewin · 20/07/2026 18:46

Mahmood is staying at the Home Office. That is a good decision - hopefully she'll be able to hold off the watering down of her reforms.

Two good decisions so far.

Binnyforthewin · 20/07/2026 18:46

Mahmood is staying at the Home Office. That is a good decision - hopefully she'll be able to hold off the watering down of her reforms.

BrownBookshelf · 20/07/2026 18:42

Mywishistoclimbthe3peaks · 20/07/2026 18:40

I think so

Big and bold moves creating hopefully a strong cabinet. Strong signals getting sent from the start.

It's an interesting choice, one I didn't see coming at all. I'm not that familiar with him but did respect his decision to quit recently.

EasternStandard · 20/07/2026 18:42

BrownBookshelf · 20/07/2026 18:40

It doesn't fit with you claiming they set the scene, however.

Yes it does. I’m not writing a prime ministerial speech, you just got bogged down for no reason.

When there’s actual news happening.

Mywishistoclimbthe3peaks · 20/07/2026 18:40

LuckyHazelFox · 20/07/2026 18:34

A smart move making Healey Chancellor.

I think so

Big and bold moves creating hopefully a strong cabinet. Strong signals getting sent from the start.

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BrownBookshelf · 20/07/2026 18:40

EasternStandard · 20/07/2026 18:02

Again Labourites hounding online. Which fits with the post I replied to.

It doesn't fit with you claiming they set the scene, however.

Mywishistoclimbthe3peaks · 20/07/2026 18:38

@Lunde it's completely natural for people to ponder a GE in these circumstances and has been since politics started pretty much and in many, many cases new PMs do call a GE as Boris and May did recently. Its not a new thing Churchill and Asquith called a GE frequently back in the day.

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CagneyLacey · 20/07/2026 18:35

LuckyHazelFox · 20/07/2026 18:15

I wondered why it was Labourite light on here 😆 🤣

They’re an amusing bunch.

It goes something like this - they collectively slag off someone in Labour, and then, when that person is appointed to cabinet, they make their excuses and shift their position as if they had backed that individual all along.

Utter hypocrites.

LuckyHazelFox · 20/07/2026 18:34

A smart move making Healey Chancellor.

Unphased · 20/07/2026 18:32

Lunde · 20/07/2026 18:02

The previous Conservative 2019 government had 3 PMs without calling a general election ... Boris ➡Liz ➡Rishi

So I'm not sure where the GE narrative is coming from now?

It’s coming from the public who witnessed time and time again Labour Mp’s calling for a General Election every time the conservatives done the same as Labour are doing now

Desperatelyseekinglazysusan · 20/07/2026 18:20

BermudaRhombus · 20/07/2026 18:08

That’s very true. People claim Britain is ungovernable, but really it’s the Labour Party that’s ungovernable. Almost everything Burnham does will offend factions and create new internal opponents - new drilling in the North Sea, closing the DSIT, reducing welfare payments, the list goes on. Burnham seems to have this weird fantasy where he can get everyone to agree with him. It’s naive.

The Labour Party has always been ungovernable. They are a coalition of groups who hate each other and would rather be in opposition than support a Labour government that does anything they disagree with, with a smattering of Trotskyist entryist thrown in to cause trouble. Every Labour leader has had to try and control the party before they can even dream of trying to run a government. The Tories always put winning above all else until the Brexiteers decided to roll out the Labour playbook and start internal ideological arguments, then they ended up the same as Labour.