Andy Burnham…

[CurlewKate]

What specifically is it that makes people think he would be a good leader of the Labour Party or Prime Minister? Actual practical reasons. I’m not saying he wouldn’t be-and I like the fact that he’s on the Left and he has an appealing way with him. But apart from that, what would he bring to the job? Not being Kier Starmer doesn’t count!

How so?

So if we don't rate a person from the North, that means we don't rate all people from the north? 🤔

Can’t stand him. I find him insufferably smug. He’s one of those people who shout about their working class roots and act as if they were excluded from society but ‘fought through against the odds’ and so on. Then you read his biography and discover he went to flippin Cambridge. I’ve met people like him before.

Because a lot of people are not articulating why they think Andy Burnham isn’t suitable for the ‘world stage.’ This is because you are too afraid to be honest enough to say it’s because he is from a northern working-class background. Starmer is a dreadful PM who never looked like he has actually wanted the job. He’s not good with people. He isn’t a great speaker. He isn’t especially intellectually gifted. He had a reputation at the Bar for sitting on the fence, all of which has been borne out in this car crash of a premiership. Still, better the devil you know..

what’s wrong with working class people going to Cambridge?

No way is Burnham on the left. He was a Blairite!

Exactly. Its laughable that he is now seen as a darling of the Left!

Of course not - this is my point entirely. Just because people don't want Andy B doesn't mean everyone is fundamentally unlikely to vote for 'a northerner.'

I struggle to believe this is still a thing, that is what I was saying.

I think this rumour is being spread about to make him less appealing

But its the Left of the party who are up in arms about him not being allowed to stand.

I did not grow up in the UK, I came here as an adult. It's literally nothing to do with him being from a 'working-class background' - culturally, this is not a thing for me.

Seriously? Are you really that clueless?

Good god, really? I think Burnham is a far more impressive and statesman like than nasal Keir.

Exactly.

I also think his popularity in the NW has been largely down to luck. Manchester has changed so dramatically in the last 10 years and there’s been so much expansion and people who don’t know any different naturally credit him with that, because they don’t understand how planning and investments work.

He must feel like one very lucky guy with how it’s worked out and is happy to go along with the fallacy.

The bus thing - what a load of rot that he’s sorted transport out. It’s as unreliable and shit as it’s ever been.

I doubt very much that Labour would lose the Manchester Mayoral election. Local.people like what AB has achieved there and part of that is the way he has set things up to work. Other Labour Mayors across the north are deliberately following his example.
I think the PLP has missed a trick here. I think AB would have won the by- election because of his personal reputation/ following, while Labour might well lose it now because of the antics of the former MP. AB could easily have supported KS until near the next GE, which should be after the next USA Presidential election, then KS stood back, citing exhaustion, which he certainly will have, leaving AB to reinvigorate the Labour Party going into the next GE and potentially winning it.
I don't think AB was a marvellous SoS for Health but I do think he has learned and grown a lot over the last decade as Mayor.

AB could easily have supported KS until near the next GE, which should be after the next USA Presidential election, then KS stood back, citing exhaustion, which he certainly will have, leaving AB to reinvigorate the Labour Party going into the next GE and potentially winning it.
He could have said that of course, if that's what he was planning to do, but it looks like, from his silence that he was planning to do nothing of the sort, and was planning on getting into Parliament and then immediately launching a leadership bid. He could have said he was supporting the Labour government but when there was a vacancy, he would consider standing.

Burnham has already failed twice to be elected. First time he came 4th out of 5 candidates, the next time he was beaten by Corbyn, but still only had 19% of the vote. Surveys in Manchester say he’s popular but when asked for any achievements apart from transport no one can name any. As a Minister he was criticised over the infected blood scandal which he didn’t get to grips with but has since pushed hard for compensation. He also admits he allowed PFI in the NHS to a damaging degree. And he oversaw the North Staffs hospital inquiry, although some did blame him for the problems there too. On the plus side he was effective during the swine flu outbreak.
He does tend to be a weather vane-hence his popularity with the soft left now when he was a real Brownite in his previous life in Westminster.
If he had stood in the by-election and won, the subsequent mayoral election would probably have seen Labour lose the position, which is an important one in the country. It was irresponsible to try to do that now. It’s a different matter towards the end of his term as mayor.
He’s very personable, is a good communicator, but I don’t believe he has a great many convictions, and I doubt he would be any more effective than Starmer. At the moment with the international turmoil we have I can’t see anyone who would be better than Starmer because the impact of external events is too great.
Also, for @LobbygobblerI’m a northern ex-council house person. I’d love to see a northern PM, but in the same vein as I’d love to see a female Labour PM, it’s the personal qualities and ideas that are important not sex and place of birth that matter most.

Thanks - the stats you have to hand are what I had in mind (but couldn't put my finger on the detail.)

He’s the Mayor of Greater Manchester and has done a good job. That’s more than a lot can say.

He apparently did say that in his letter to the PM/NEC.

@whiteroseredroseit is. I think he’s done well in Manchester. Maybe he should stay there and achieve more. Then he could maybe try for Parliament at the end of his mayoral term

Exactly. I didn't say Burnham was on the left of the party, I said:

He's basically the only realistic candidate for those on the left of Labour. Streeting is more middle, like Starmer.

Well he's the only one there's been. So literally no-one else can say that 😆

Its not only the left

and whatever Starmer does the left of the party are not happy with unless he steps down, shall be much of the same who ever becomes party leader unless they are on the left

but most voters do not side with the left of labour, so putting it out there that Burnham is on the left does not make him look so appealing and makes Starmer look like the voice of reason

Then the Left should stop going on about this. I've heard John McDonnell twice, yeterday on Radio 4 and today on Times Radio. He's probably done more as well.

I've not heard any non-Left MPs criticising Starmer for his decidion to block Burnham's application.