Andy Burnham

Thanks for that post @SpidersAreShitheads very interesting.

I’m in Ireland, although I have lived in England but I’m watching from afar because it all does impact us here. I love that he is focused on very traditional Labour Party topics, things like homelessness that everyone can get behind. He’s also an “every man’s man” a man you can go for a pint with but that would hold up at a more formal event too. He has charisma and he’s talking about hope and unity so it just all seems more positive than what has come before.

But yes hopefully he can be trusted.

His supporters have been plotting for at least a year to get him in, and he's been trying to become Labour leader for about 15 years!

Great post @SpidersAreShitheads

I agree with this and @Luingcow‘s description.

I deeply dislike the underhand way that Burnham and his allies undermined Starmer. Getting an MP to step down and triggering a by-election was an irresponsible step, creating unnecessary expense and disruption for the constituents in the area.

I find it incredibly distasteful that Burnham is now calling for unity and calling out in-fighting. It’s rank hypocrisy. (Pic attached)

I think a legal coup is the best way to describe what’s happened. Burnham is young enough to have time on his side and he should have waited.

Nevertheless, I am staunchly a Labour voter with firmly left-leaning politics.

For that reason I hope that he succeeds because we really do need him to. God save us all if Reform get in - although thankfully that’s looking increasingly unlikely as Farage’s corruption becomes more widely spoken about. The Tories got us into this mess so they need to be kept out of government too.

I think Burnham has been naive in promising to eradicate rough sleeping. He didn’t manage to have any effect on rough sleeping/homelessness in Manchester so I doubt he’ll be any more successful nationwide. I think it’s a noble, worthwhile goal and something that we absolutely should aim for. But essentially promising to make it a thing of the past just leaves the media with a stick to beat him with when it inevitably fails.

I worked in a homeless shelter for many years and as a PP mentioned, it’s a complex area that isn’t just about there not being sufficient places. Mental health and addiction are major factors, and to address rough sleeping/homelessness you also have to solve these problems. It’s a huge task.

Given how Burnham has behaved in grabbing power, I don’t really trust him right now. He seems to have a chip on his shoulder about London/the southeast (I don’t live there so I’m not defending my own interests). But I hope he proves to be a decent PM - and upholds Labour values - because he’s in power now and the alternatives are just dire.

It's not quite that simple, though, is it?

Successive administrations have failed to build enough homes. They have not, and still do not, maximise value creation in contract negotiations with the private sector and investors. They also waste huge amounts money having to revisit and refine poorly thought out policies, that just for starters.

Right. So you can't explain how what you said would work then.

Huh ? This is an anonymous forum. Nobody here know what nationality posters are.

And why is it belittling, snarky and mean to ask a poster how a system works when they say , quote: " Yes if it actually goes to people already here on the waiting list but I doubt this will happen" ?

Am I not allowed to explore and ask the PP what that means ?

And if that is true, surely it would be all over the press ?

And I see the poster has replied with, quote:" They might as well".

Right, so it appears to be a totally unsubstantiated claim, and if I challenge that claim I am belittling, snarky and mean. No wonder we have such a big misinformation problem.

I’m fortunate as I don’t need one but Government immigration policy has led to a shortage of housing however much they pretend it doesn’t

Belittling people doesn’t help. You are avoiding having empathy for the injustice that British people feel, by being snarky and mean.

if any other nationality complained of feeling marginalised youd not dare to sneer. But Brits say it and you sneer. Disgusting.

They might as well

How does that even work then ? Do you think if the government build houses, they then send people to far off lands to ask random people "Want a house ?".

If that was happening, I am sure the Daily Mail would soon find out.

I think it will go to people from overseas as they seem to jump the queue

Because that is the system. Want social housing, go on the list.

But you said you doubt that will happen. So how will housing be allocated then ?

Why does it need to be?

How will housing be allocated to people not on the housing list then ?

Yes if it actually goes to people already here on the waiting list but I doubt this will happen

I very much agree with the need for more council housing- that would have a huge impact on families and others needing good quality, reasonably priced and stable accommodation- however I see that Angela Rayner is again supposed to be driving this so I don’t have high hopes for this to happen

Why should we? We don't vote people in on the basis they will let us know what their plans are later.

They sail from Faslane. Supposed to be one at sea at any time. I was wondering how they get the new letter to the Captain at sea. Radio transmit it ? Like in the film "Crimson Tide" ?

I just got out my binoculars to see if I could spot any over at Devonport!

I think it is a given that he has increased responsibility. I expect he has done his "letters of last resort" to the Trident Sub Captains.

I have always believed that increased power should come with increased responsibility.

We just have to wait. He has national power now.

But we do need to know what his plans are and we are right to question them, surely?

He said the same thing in Manchester and initially there was success but the figures have crept back up again. There must be reasons but we are not given any details by Burnham.