To think Andy Burnham is doing a decent job so far?

That’s a good point - and I totally accept it. But that doesn’t mean mainstream politicians can avoid social media together - the genie is out of the bottle. The best they can do - I think - is use it in a way that doesn’t perpetually feed the algorithmic outrage. That’s what I think Andy Burnham is doing so well - his team aren’t churning out rage bait, they’re using barm cakes to explain devolution. And I do think it’s genius.

The media scrutiny point is interesting - I heard Laura Kuessenberg talking about how surprised she was at just how much access Andy Burnham gave her for their interview and I also heard a journalist (I think from the Huff Post) talking about a media huddle in the Downing Street garden and how unprecedented it was to be invited in like that.

But on the other hand, I do get the criticisms about not always taking media questions - and especially about not delaying summer recess so he could take questions in the house.

Personally, I think Andy Burnham was right not to answer questions after his first big speech - because if he had, the headlines would have been “Andy Burnham refuses to comment of X,Y,Z” rather than anything about the substance of his announcements. And I thought he handled the questions around social care exceptionally well.

I suppose overall think there’s a fine line between avoiding scrutiny and not being drawn into manufactured outrage from a “gotcha” obsessed media culture. For now at least, I’m comfortable that he’s strategically controlling the narrative rather than dodging scrutiny - but you’re right, if he ever gets as tetchy and evasive as Farage in the face of media questioning, then I would start to worry.

The social care presser was a master class in communication. The audience ranged round in a semi circle, no podium, no notes, took questions. Warm, sincere, heartfelt. This is a natural politician at the top of his game, no wonder he’s got his detractors thoroughly rattled.

To me he’s hit the ground running. I like that he’s got T and LD around the table. It’s how it should be. Everyone will have valid ideas. He’s using some tried and tested findings from Manchester where apprenticeship schemes have worked with 14-16 year olds too so to build that into education more widely is encouraging.

Yes people always say 'career politician' as if its disparaging, but being a politician is a career, and one where you need some exceptional diplomatic and negotiating skills, and a bucketful of charm. Some people are exceedingly good at it.Some people use their talents for ill, but some (hopefully Burnham is one) use them for good. If you don't have that, it doesnt matter how good your intentions are, you cannot get anything done. That was borne out by Starmer and probably May, especially on Social care reform.

I think people say "career politician" to mean the type of politician who puts their own career advancement above what is in the interests of their constituents/party/country.

Boris Johnson is the perfect example - changing his stance on Brexit to Leave in an attempt to advance his own career.

I didn’t say “career politician” I said “natural politician”. 🤷‍♀️

Which could be described as something of an oxymoron ...

I don’t see why. Some people are born with the ability and talent, others aren’t.

I don't think so. They often say it to mean someone who has only had a job in politics, but a job in politics could be lots of things- working for the civil service, being an admin assistant or assistant to a politician, an MP etc. Boris Johnson was never called a 'career politician' because he had a job before he was a politician as a journalist. He was, however, an opportunist

I know. What I meant was that if someone has the skills to be a good politician, then there's nothing wrong with them going into politics. Just because they've been a plumber or something for a few years before becoming a politician doesn't automatically make them better than someone who wants to be a politician.

You’re right. I apologise, I misinterpreted you.

Alas, one man with a warm bedside manner, does not good government make.

I’m not sure who you refer to when you suggest he has ‘rattled detractors’, incidentally.

You just need to read back on this thread to see. Plenty of evidence of rattling 😊

He is focusing on the wrong things. At a GE people are going to care about 2 things, immigration and how much money they have in their pocket. Most people feel poorer, other than those on benefits who keep getting more and more of a bribe.

No one cares about bus fares (you couldn't make it up) or a tiny reduction in energy bills.

The social care crisis is a big problem but a 10% death tax is not going to be popular.

I know polls are just a snapshot etc. but based on latest polling Reform has lost its lead and is no longer predicted to win the largest share of seats.

You may not care about bus fares and a reduction in. Energy bills but many do as that is what effects their daily life. Immigration is not the be all and end all if everything

I was listening to the TRIP podcast and they were saying that Burnham is going to have to just get the social care reforms done this term, because he has such a large majority it's really his only opportunity. No one wants to pay anything for their social care, but we will all have to, like it or not. People who don't like it can either lose 10% or lose the whole amount in care home fees. Much of it subsidising people who haven't paid anything at all. People have been saying ' something needs to be done' for 20 years. He will have to do something about immigration and small boats if he wants to win the election but he doesn't need to do that yet.

I disagree.

Apart from anything else people only care about immigration (the boats! The boats!) because of the RW media and all the different Re... Parties banging on about them. We know the boats aren't really the issue and fortunately some of the electorate understand that. Plus, the number of boats has gone down.

I do agree that people care about the money in their pockets. The fares and energy bills are clearly part of that.

I haven’t listened to it yet but I can’t imagine they said that. It’s a very long term project which is impossible to reform in three years, both Campbell and Stewart are astute enough to understand that.

The grown ups in the room have played a blinder as far as Farage concerned. Using the summer recess to actually crack on with stuff whilst he is in Clacton arguing with a bin….

Good to hear you will be better off with the bus fares cap @spiceupyourlives it should help a lot of people get to work for less 👍

I live rurally so buses are pretty non existent 😂 so makes no odds to me - but if he can grasp social care good on him. I’d like to see someone have balls to tackle the massive pension and welfare bill though - we just can’t afford it….

On immigration, there’s been extensive research that the more it is talked about, the more bothered people are. So, I think it’s right he is not making a big song and dance about immigration right now. Time to stop letting Reform set the agenda.

Obviously, I agree with you - of course people care about how much money they have in their pocket - but that very much includes the millions of people who get the bus to work every day, and will very much feel the benefit of a bus fare cap.

But the key thing for me is Andy Burnham is potentially two years out from a general election and he has a lot of political good will behind him right now. So, now is the time to use that good will to do the big, difficult, none-vote-winning things - like social care reform.

I think one of the problems with modern politics is we’ve been stuck in permanent election mode - you can’t govern well if your measure for a policy is, “will it win votes” rather than “will it be good for the country”.

I know no one can believe it when a politician is sincere but I really think Andy Burnham means it when he talks about at least attempting to change that political culture. Maybe I’ll be proved horribly wrong, but for now I’m choosing hope!

I think student loans are a more pressing issue than social care - saddling young people with huge debts with unconscionable interest arrangements at the very start of their lives.