So who are you rootin' for at Makersfield?

It wasn’t in 2022. Two changes and no GE for nearly two years.

Thank you for noticing! Burnham is an interesting politician compared to his competitors. It does give him an edge. What he does with it will be interesting if he wins.

There was a lot criticism about Starmer in his lack of vision or hope when he was elected. People give large majorities because they want serious change but also, they want hope. Starmer has missed the mark there. But then does Badenoch and Farage, because their visions of the UK are not great either. They may think it is realistic, or sound policy to be like that. But the most effective politicians combine the two messages.

Thats debatable imo, but let's see what happens. History tells us that as soon as a party starts changing leader, its all over.

Yes, feel free to report it if you believe it falls foul of the guidelines.

What pressure? A few posts on MN?

Is this a quote from a different thread?

Well we’re likely to find out what that means in power. As for a GE we’ll see what pressure brings.

I don't think he will. Agree he has a big ego, but he is not stupid.

Yep. Juvenile.

Yes it was. Typical.

What? That’s a bit silly as insults go.

So have you. Doesn’t stop you though, does it?

Andy Burnham is more popular than with Badenoch or Farage. That tells you something which if he is clever he can use. The voters want to like him. They are already placing some hope in him which in politics is not nothing. In fact I would say it is quality that is missing in Starmer, Badenoch and Farage who make for depressing politics

As I said, I am not an AB admirer, I find him to be on the smarmy side. But you do have a point. He is personable to many in a way that Starmer and Badenoch aren't. Farage has charisma for certain groups of people, though, sadly. But AB also has an air of hopefulness too, which none of the other three have. And he hs a sense of humour, which comes across well on his SM. That shouldn't matter, but it does.

Still no explanation...it's almost like you don't have one.
And no, asking someone about a boyfriend makes no assumption about their gender or sexuality.
It is neither insulting nor personal. It's simply a way of saying I don't believe you could defend T and K and seeing as you haven't, I am now more sure of that than ever.

Recognise this?

Paravion011 · Today 04:53
BIossomtoes · Yesterday 22:36
I’ve been paying taxes since before you were born and will continue to do so until I die. We have an ageing population and a falling birth rate. If you want your pension in 27 years time there’s going to have to be a bigger working population than there could possibly be without immigration.
Show quote history
I am guessing the total amount you have paid is comparatively small, versus your peers.
Call it a hunch.

Absolutely not Burnham, anyone else but him

Andy Burnham is not as green as he is cabbage looking. Look at the parliamentary majority he would inherit. The numbers you speak of would have to be in order of a democratic state like Zimbabwe

Indeed. You vote for a party. The PM is a figure who leads. This stuff about mandate is US style presidential politics.

So if Burnham takes over, which is clearly his intention, he then gets a big poll bounce, and he's under pressure from the rabid lefties who put him there to make huge changes. You don't think he'll be tempted to go to the public? His ego will make that irresistible.

Count Binface

But he mandate given at a GE is for the government, not the PM?

I dislike Burnham and what he is doing. But Labour would be insane to call a GE when there is no need.

No they won’t. Mandate is American. We have an elective dictatorship in the UK, and all parties of all wings exploit it. Plus Labour MPs do not like committing electoral suicide at 17 percent in the polls. Vote Burnham, get an election? His leadership would be stuffed from the start.

The implications of no election are about the same as they were for the Tories who also did not go to the country when the numbers were poor. Unless your government does a better job, and the voters recognize this (and it’s what Burnham must promise and deliver), the Labour Party will be absolutely tanned in 2029’s election. Voters judge it harshly.

You can assume this will exclude tribal Tories and a lot of Reform voters. They will go on about mandate (so American) because it part of the personality politics they want. But there is an edge to this too. Andy Burnham is more popular than with Badenoch or Farage. That tells you something which if he is clever he can use. The voters want to like him. They are already placing some hope in him which in politics is not nothing. In fact I would say it is quality that is missing in Starmer, Badenoch and Farage who make for depressing politics. That is the thing that is genuinely interesting about Burnham if you are a floating voter, left or centrist.

I wouldn't call it juvenile or an insult.
I just think if you are going to tell someone they are completely wrong in their assertions, you should tell them why. Looks like we differ on that. Likely not the only thing.