Oh Andy, Andy, Andy.. just Why?

I like to back up what I am posting - so here is what is on the BBC about the Reform exposé

Reform's head of policy, James Orr, who also appeared in the film, suggested to the undercover reporter that perhaps his American father could pay for opinion polling to aid Reform's campaigning.
In all, Channel 4 News claims three polls were commissioned in this way costing £32,500 in total and that the public was not told who commissioned or funded them.
Not disclosing such funding would be illegal and accepting this kind of foreign funding would also be illegal.

We cannot persuade you that, that
will be AB’s job!

That’s another fair point about the limitations of polls - and I’d probably have been the first to point that out when Reform were crowing that they needed a bigger seat at the political table, based on high polling alone.

It’s genuinely interesting to be on threads like this one and see different perspectives (even if it won’t persuade me to fall out of love with Andy Burnham myself, just yet 😆)

But these polls are so limited (if not corrupt) - if you asked me who I prefer for PM, Farage or Burnham - it would be Burnham without a doubt.

We can't help it if he AB is coming across as a lot of hot air, at the moment.

Also, fair point, I am aware I probably do seem a bit obsessively keen on Andy Burnham😆

I think it's partly just that some of the things being said on this thread seem so bafflingly disconnected to what the public at large currently think about Andy Burnham, that I find it hard to get my head round it.

But you're right, I should - and do intellectually - accept that we're none of us are going to think the same!

Fair point, but they're the latest available. And I imagine given Reform's implostion over the last 24hrs, the polls published next week will show Farage sinking even lower. I just think it's a bit of a leap to imagine anyone in the Labour party would have buyer's remorse after one slightly lacklustre PMQs, given he personally is so far ahead of any of the other leaders.

True. But the plotting and skewing of polling had been going on for over a year.

They were published today though - and are therefore the latest available.

It was the local elections that put the fear into Labour MPs though.

This latest Reform exposure by Channel 4 has shown that they were scrounging money for polls - all illegal. I wonder how much these polls were skewed in Reform's favour? What with that and Burnham and the Turncoats plotting - Starmer didn't stand a chance.

Yes, I did see that the first time you posted.

The polling you are posting, from what I can see
was conducted in the last week of August, before the Wednesday performance.

I know you're keen @Visiblyabove25 but you've just put in the results of over a week ago, twice! ❤ If Burnham can't get good polls at the moment he never will - haven't you heard what dodgy dealings Farage has been exposed for?

I doubt it. I'm not saying that doubts won't kick in at some stage in the future - especially since we've become so addicted to swapping our leaders at the first sign of trouble, but at the moment, the latest polling suggests it's still the case that the more the public see of Andy Burnham, the more they like him, so I'm guessing Labour will be pretty happy with that: Burnham bounce continues with public more favourable towards PM than other leading UK politicians | Ipsos

Buyer’s remorse?

After Wednesday performance I wouldn’t be surprised.

I doubt they're panicking now: Who would make the best prime minister? August 2026

I think Keir Starmer achieved some good things, especially on the international stage, but I don't think he was the right leader to take on Reform and the populist right. Early days, but there's hope that Andy Burnham might be.

I wrote to Sir Keir to say I was sorry to see him go and received a very nice reply.

They panicked because of the polls.

Some bright spark Labour MP can't remember who is saying people should stock up on tins in case of food shortages caused by global warming. Isn't it the Socialists Party job to look after the people?

There was a headline in DH's Torygraph today to the effect of "Burnham's premiership is like using a homeopathic remedy to cure a deadly disease" and I found myself nodding.

As for the Insta-bollocks, I haven't felt such breathtaking contempt since Gemma Collins waddled into the D for E for a cuppa with 'wor Bridget.

I doubt anyone inside the Labour party is too worried yet: Burnham bounce continues with public more favourable towards PM than other leading UK politicians | Ipsos

Having said that though, I was also a bit underwhelmed by his performance in PMQs. I'm hopeful that he'll grow into it, and that Kemi Badenboch will also up her game in response. I think it would be really, really good for our democracy if we could start to see some proper, rigorous, ideological exchanges between the Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition instead of the tedious point-scoring PMQs can be.

I'm finding it fascinating how the cheeky chappy persona and the upbeat vocal tones are disappearing now he has found the reality of leading the country and how careful you have to be that people don't report your off the cuff remarks as policy.

I thought his first performance at Prime Ministers Questions was verging on as flat and lacking in personality as Starmer's.

I think there might be a few people inside and outside the Labour Party wondering if they've shot themselves in the foot by changing leaders mid stream.

Yes he is being ex Mayor of Manchester and the shady things he did colluding with the Manc polizi to hide the Ggangs enquiry. Hasnt once started any enquiries - Raja Miah lives in the area and has been the voice to speak out against all the coverups

The latter.

I wonder how long till the novelty of the endless insta posts and bus toys wears off.

AndyKitten -

Upthread you said "Also, the shelf life of this engagement can be quite short."

Social media lilypad-hopping seems to have short but attention-grabbing engagement as a key characteristic. But I'm now wondering if you meant the time the public tolerates the person that has found themselves in the office of PM, at the moment.

I think it’s fine for people to engage with different things, as long as it’s left as distinct. I don’t need the feeds I follow to switch to chocolate or other similar techniques.

It all works for the demographics as it is. When one politician wins over another so be it. I’m reminded of KS donning casual T-shirts in last few days, it never works.

ETA - I mean it doesn’t work when politicians try to transplant what’s working for someone else. Better to ride it out and stick to core ideas.