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Original poster

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.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
LuckyHazelFox · 20/07/2026 18:15

CagneyLacey · 20/07/2026 18:12

There’s another long-running thread, which I shall avoid naming, but which is fucking comedy gold, should anyone want some respite from this thread.

I have genuinely been LOL.

I wondered why it was Labourite light on here 😆 🤣

Desperatelyseekinglazysusan · 20/07/2026 18:13

MeetMeOnTheCorner · 20/07/2026 18:02

The size of the majority is actually a problem. There’s so much room for factions and friction. They have become used to being vocal and indisciplined so the first thing they don’t like, the briefings will start. There’s a faction that wants everything but doesn’t understand you need fiscal probity. They think everyone else pays but have no idea about growth and how increased borrowing is not possible.

There is. I think he's going to need to tell them to fall in line or fuck off to the Greens. Starmer tried playing handball then caved almost immediately. They smelt blood and just went for him again and again. They can't do it again.

MeetMeOnTheCorner · 20/07/2026 18:12

@BermudaRhombus Totally agree. I think Labour are very difficult to manage. There’s a lot of class politics driving some MPs but others are more pragmatic. So far AB is just selling AB. He’s very light on how his views will be carried out. It’s seriously problematic when he’s got big decisions to make.

CagneyLacey · 20/07/2026 18:12

There’s another long-running thread, which I shall avoid naming, but which is fucking comedy gold, should anyone want some respite from this thread.

I have genuinely been LOL.

Original poster
Mywishistoclimbthe3peaks · 20/07/2026 18:12

BIossomtoes · 20/07/2026 17:50

What infighting? The Labour PLP put Burnham into Downing Street unopposed. That looks like unity to me.

They did but today is a brand new day and so is tomorrow. Its politics where they smile to your face then stab you in the back.

OP posts:
Desperatelyseekinglazysusan · 20/07/2026 18:09

BIossomtoes · 20/07/2026 17:50

What infighting? The Labour PLP put Burnham into Downing Street unopposed. That looks like unity to me.

Because he was everyman to them. He didn't say anything substantial so they could all pretend he was saying what they thought he was saying. If he puts Mahmoud in as chancellor they will throw their toys out of the pram, but if he put Milliband in the unions will throw their toys out of the pram and they are the ones with the cash.

BermudaRhombus · 20/07/2026 18:08

MeetMeOnTheCorner · 20/07/2026 18:02

The size of the majority is actually a problem. There’s so much room for factions and friction. They have become used to being vocal and indisciplined so the first thing they don’t like, the briefings will start. There’s a faction that wants everything but doesn’t understand you need fiscal probity. They think everyone else pays but have no idea about growth and how increased borrowing is not possible.

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.

Binnyforthewin · 20/07/2026 18:07

Lunde · 20/07/2026 18:02

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

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

Boris called an election. He got a majority.

Lunde · 20/07/2026 18:02

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

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

MeetMeOnTheCorner · 20/07/2026 18:02

The size of the majority is actually a problem. There’s so much room for factions and friction. They have become used to being vocal and indisciplined so the first thing they don’t like, the briefings will start. There’s a faction that wants everything but doesn’t understand you need fiscal probity. They think everyone else pays but have no idea about growth and how increased borrowing is not possible.

EasternStandard · 20/07/2026 18:02

BrownBookshelf · 20/07/2026 17:57

No they didn't.

The scene of calling for a GE when the PM changes mid Parliament existed long before the most recent Labour you're talking about, as evidenced by calls for Brown to have one in 07. And the scene of using social media for political communication went well beyond any British opposition party. Labour didn't have the power to do that, and frankly their comms strategy hasn't been particularly revolutionary either.

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

MyAgileUser · 20/07/2026 17:59

He won’t, he doesn’t need to. We vote for a party not a president.
i’ll vote for Kemi if he does…

BermudaRhombus · 20/07/2026 17:58

BIossomtoes · 20/07/2026 17:50

What infighting? The Labour PLP put Burnham into Downing Street unopposed. That looks like unity to me.

Labour don’t know the meaning of the word ‘unity’ and they won’t learn it under Burnham. He’s already upset half the party 😆

BIossomtoes · 20/07/2026 17:58

RodneyKitten · 20/07/2026 17:54

You seem to have forgotten that they already had a serving PM when they did it, and that they reshuffled the fuck out of the cabinet.

if that’s not infighting I don’t what is.

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Who reshuffled the fuck out of the Cabinet? All new PMs choose their own top team.

BrownBookshelf · 20/07/2026 17:57

EasternStandard · 20/07/2026 17:41

Labourites set the scene.

Show quote history

No they didn't.

The scene of calling for a GE when the PM changes mid Parliament existed long before the most recent Labour you're talking about, as evidenced by calls for Brown to have one in 07. And the scene of using social media for political communication went well beyond any British opposition party. Labour didn't have the power to do that, and frankly their comms strategy hasn't been particularly revolutionary either.

CagneyLacey · 20/07/2026 17:56

Gotta admit - I’m increasingly of the view that Labour have scored a monumental own goal, taking out Starmer, and replacing him with the
Burnham-ator....

(And I think the Labour-faithful know that too….)

🙄

RodneyKitten · 20/07/2026 17:54

BIossomtoes · 20/07/2026 17:50

What infighting? The Labour PLP put Burnham into Downing Street unopposed. That looks like unity to me.

You seem to have forgotten that they already had a serving PM when they did it, and that they reshuffled the fuck out of the cabinet.

if that’s not infighting I don’t what is.

Brightlittlecanary · 20/07/2026 17:51

BIossomtoes · 20/07/2026 17:50

What infighting? The Labour PLP put Burnham into Downing Street unopposed. That looks like unity to me.

How naive, it’s the only thing they are united behind,😂

BIossomtoes · 20/07/2026 17:50

What infighting? The Labour PLP put Burnham into Downing Street unopposed. That looks like unity to me.

Original poster
Mywishistoclimbthe3peaks · 20/07/2026 17:45

Bellewin · 20/07/2026 17:42

He’s literally just promised us stability. He’s not going to call an election. Why would he when he doesn’t need to?

If the infighting continues or gets worse and he can't get anything through. Burnham would be stuck and left to call an election to form his own government with his own manifesto. Its of course hypothetical but a real possibility as he can't U turn or be at the backbenchers mercy.

OP posts:
Bellewin · 20/07/2026 17:42

He’s literally just promised us stability. He’s not going to call an election. Why would he when he doesn’t need to?

EasternStandard · 20/07/2026 17:41

BrownBookshelf · 20/07/2026 17:37

Having looked, there's no post that explains how Labour set the scene when what you actually mean was people who may or may not have supported Labour did a thing that had already been done a lot before, on a medium that others including people viscerally opposed to them were also using. One can only conclude that no such explanation exists, what with it being an inherently ridiculous claim in the first place.

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Labourites set the scene.

BrownBookshelf · 20/07/2026 17:40

Can't pretend that wouldn't be funny!

Original poster
Mywishistoclimbthe3peaks · 20/07/2026 17:39

Binnyforthewin · 20/07/2026 17:38

I really hope its David. It would be amazing if Ed walks in and is told its your brother's time to shine you backstabbing bastard.

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🤣🤣

OP posts:
Binnyforthewin · 20/07/2026 17:38

LuckyHazelFox · 20/07/2026 17:36

There's speculation of Foreign sec for Milliband.

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I really hope its David. It would be amazing if Ed walks in and is told its your brother's time to shine you backstabbing bastard.