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Original poster

What is so great about Andy Burnham?

126 replies

jeanne16 · 15/05/2026 12:57

Just that really. I keep hearing what a great job he has done as mayor but never hear any examples of what he has done.

Btw Boris Johnson was quite a successful mayor of London and we all know how that turned out.

OP posts:
Alexandra2001 · Today 12:27

GasPanic · Today 10:42

It may technically reside with Starmer but in practice it doesn't.

A PM only governs with the support of their cabinet, the cabinet only governs with the support of the backbenchers and the backbenchers only govern with the support of the people.

Maybe a better question is why Labour backbench MPs would vote for a GE when they have over 3 years left to run, and the answer to that would be that it would because they would view continuing in government was more damaging to the party and risky to their futures than calling an election.

I think Burnham is a unique candidate in the respect that his (supposed) competence makes him a clear and obvious leader of the party at this point, a leader that both the left and right may be willing to accept. The path to a new leader and a united party to me looks a lot more difficult in a Rayner/Streeting contest scenario. Where that contest takes the party I don't know, but if both sides dig their heels in it could be to a very bleak place.

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Burnham may well unite left and right but he has to be elected first.

I cannot think of any Govt/Party in power, certainly in my life time, that has called a GE when they have a huge majority, miles behind in the 'polls, diversion from the manifesto or not & a manifesto that was v weak on policy.

Don't get the "support of the people" Labour won on 33% of the vote, the next Government will be formed on less than that, perhaps as low as 25%, based on current polling.

FPTP needs to go, its unfit for a multi party election.

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