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Labour isn't Working - Thread 33

848 replies

Nuthatch26 · 18/05/2026 10:16

A chat thread for those who don't like this Labour government. 💙

The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money.

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Labour isn't Working - Thread 33
OP posts:
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53
EasternStandard · 22/05/2026 13:15

Nuthatch26 · 22/05/2026 13:11

Good news, thanks @Upstartled
Burnham's ratings won't last long if he does become PM.

Yes really good to see @Upstartledand agree it’ll switch pretty quickly if he gets the job.

DenizenOfAisleOfShame · 22/05/2026 13:27

On Guido Fawkes there’s an interview with the Mail journalist who Burnham turned on. It’s interesting as an account of the facts from someone who was there, recorded the facts immediately and presents them calmly and straightforwardly. Burnham does not come out of it well.

I quite often take Guido’s reporting as inherently one-sided and put it in the maybe/maybe not mental file. But this is a very illuminating and informative interview.

Equally interesting is the subsequent discussion about Burnham’s popularity as mayor being easy - as is true of all mayors - and the massive difference between mayoral and (prime) ministerial positions. I think it hit the nail on the head.

Burnham is going to crash and burn if he gets back to Westminster, IMO.

justasking111 · 22/05/2026 18:21

The speaker has let fly today and I 💯 agree with him. He's fed up with labour ministers announcing changes, on tik tok, sky BBC in interviews before they have discussed it in the HOC with their own members. He said they were disrespectful to the house, backbenchers.

It's just what Drakeford did in Wales for years. Everything was presented as a fait accomplis.

Will they care?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

redange · 22/05/2026 18:50

Basically Manchester has been a Labour Dictatorship for decades. Burnham and the Labour Party in Manchester has had no opposition for at least thirty years. Hence, the panic because Reform and the Greens are no offering some resistance. Burnham 'if' elected he has no experience of governing where decisions are questioned or roundly derided. The supposition of people on the left that Burnham is the 'red Boris' is completely inaccurate, Burnham is not fit to 'lace' Boris's boots in Charisma or intelligence !

Furthering, on from a previous post I made yesterday highlight ling how the Southern based media believed Tameside was spelt 'Thameside', it is clear this ignorance runs across the South. This, as I have been repeatably told by Southern 'friends' here in Essex, that the By-Election is taking place in 'Macclesfield' and that having come from around there how 'Working Class' and downtrodden Cheshire East looks ! This is why this (Southern born) Northerner in exile in Essex wants to come back North when all the kids go to University!

SionnachRuadh · 22/05/2026 19:08

Tim Shipman was making one of his good points, that being a Labour mayor in Manchester is playing politics on easy mode. Burnham gets puff coverage in the MEN, he does a phone-in on local radio with a very friendly host. Most of the urban regeneration has been him spending money he's given by central government, claiming the credit and complaining that he's not getting enough.

In terms of the construction boom, it was Cheshire MP George Osborne who masterminded the Northern Powerhouse and diverted funds to Manchester. It was Chris Grayling (!) who passed the legislation on bus franchising. Andy's contribution was to paint them yellow.

There's a similar thing in London with our own Supreme Leader and Custodian of the Holy Marmalade Sandwich, and I don't believe Sadiq has given up on the Labour leadership.

Boris should be a cautionary tale for big city mayors who think they can easily transition to PM.

Unrivalled · 22/05/2026 19:59

Ed Balls on the latest political currency made the same point too about mayoral politics being easier. see also the snp, nice to always have someone else to blame…looks like the last 40 years of economic liberalism are what Burnham is setting up to blame next.

Nuthatch26 · 22/05/2026 20:57

I don't really understand the Burnham adoration, agree with the posts above re being mayor vs PM. Burnham is blaming Thatcherism last I heard, even though he himself is a positive example of it.
He's a bit of a marmite figure amongst my colleagues, friends and family. Certainly not universally popular. He has baggage, but it rarely reaches the national press.
I remember him when he was in cabinet in the last Labour govt, and he really didn't shine. He then decided to bugger off for an easy ride as mayor rather than doing the hard yards in opposition.

I've met him a few times through work and he's nothing special. He's pleasant, but dull and shallow. He's not the type of person who can command a room iykwim, and he doesn't seem the type who could be decisive in tough times. You know the type of person who just tries to say what they think you want to hear? That's how he comes across. He also changes his accent depending on his audience which really bugs me.

It's also clear as the years go by how much of a shape-shifter he is, and thats not what the country needs as a follow up to the bollard of zero principles.

OP posts:
Bananarep · 22/05/2026 21:15

Nuthatch26 · 22/05/2026 20:57

I don't really understand the Burnham adoration, agree with the posts above re being mayor vs PM. Burnham is blaming Thatcherism last I heard, even though he himself is a positive example of it.
He's a bit of a marmite figure amongst my colleagues, friends and family. Certainly not universally popular. He has baggage, but it rarely reaches the national press.
I remember him when he was in cabinet in the last Labour govt, and he really didn't shine. He then decided to bugger off for an easy ride as mayor rather than doing the hard yards in opposition.

I've met him a few times through work and he's nothing special. He's pleasant, but dull and shallow. He's not the type of person who can command a room iykwim, and he doesn't seem the type who could be decisive in tough times. You know the type of person who just tries to say what they think you want to hear? That's how he comes across. He also changes his accent depending on his audience which really bugs me.

It's also clear as the years go by how much of a shape-shifter he is, and thats not what the country needs as a follow up to the bollard of zero principles.

A Blairite, Brownite, Corbynite and Starmerite walk into a Manchester bar and the barman says: ‘What can I get you, Andy?’

Nuthatch26 · 22/05/2026 21:57

Bananarep · 22/05/2026 21:15

A Blairite, Brownite, Corbynite and Starmerite walk into a Manchester bar and the barman says: ‘What can I get you, Andy?’

Yep, that joke is 👌

OP posts:
SapphireCasino · 22/05/2026 23:03

just saying hello

Been ignoring news

Wondering if something has kicked off because MN seems very full of threads about money tonight. I can't see anything on the news.

I know someone who interviewed Andy Burnham. Interestingly, she was fully prepared not to like him. But she came away feeling like he was alright.

I think she interviewed him on something health related - maybe a particular initiative in Manchester? - she said he was well meaning and enthusiastic - there was no political element to that interview though. At least not that I recall.

LupaMoonhowl · 23/05/2026 08:33

SapphireCasino · 22/05/2026 23:03

just saying hello

Been ignoring news

Wondering if something has kicked off because MN seems very full of threads about money tonight. I can't see anything on the news.

I know someone who interviewed Andy Burnham. Interestingly, she was fully prepared not to like him. But she came away feeling like he was alright.

I think she interviewed him on something health related - maybe a particular initiative in Manchester? - she said he was well meaning and enthusiastic - there was no political element to that interview though. At least not that I recall.

Not much of a journalist then -anyone can appear enthusiastic and well-meaning - even the bollard would manage that doesn’t mean anything.

Parsley4321 · 23/05/2026 08:37

Burnham is a shape shifting dangerous self serving communist slightly more engaging than bollard.
news about Henry Novak has really pissed me off and made me angry two tier policing
another north wales private school has announced closure all staff redundant

EasternStandard · 23/05/2026 08:40

Parsley4321 · 23/05/2026 08:37

Burnham is a shape shifting dangerous self serving communist slightly more engaging than bollard.
news about Henry Novak has really pissed me off and made me angry two tier policing
another north wales private school has announced closure all staff redundant

Henry Nowak is on IG (I don’t do X sure it’s there too) but haven’t seen anything in the news or on here.

The private schools closing summer Labour up. Tax against education but for theme parks and crisps.

Bananarep · 23/05/2026 08:44

EasternStandard · 23/05/2026 08:40

Henry Nowak is on IG (I don’t do X sure it’s there too) but haven’t seen anything in the news or on here.

The private schools closing summer Labour up. Tax against education but for theme parks and crisps.

Edited

It’s amusing - the dummies haven’t done the maths.

When the next Labour tub thumper raises it on another thread, I will ask them to bust out the calcs.

Edit: On the ‘Great British Summer Savings!!!’

SpaceRaccoon · 23/05/2026 08:45

Parsley4321 · 23/05/2026 08:37

Burnham is a shape shifting dangerous self serving communist slightly more engaging than bollard.
news about Henry Novak has really pissed me off and made me angry two tier policing
another north wales private school has announced closure all staff redundant

The Henry Nowak case is heartbreaking and incredibly angering. People hate X but if it hadn't been amplified on there most people wouldn't even know about it.

Can you imagine if this had been a black lad stabbed by a white lad, and the police had then handcuffed him as he lay dying? There would be riots in every city in the UK.
Between that and those gang rapists being let off and praised by the judge, I'm angry.

Also irritated at the disingenious reaction to Reeves' heckling - "you can't shout at her, she's a woman". Cabinet ministers are fair game for that sort of heckling imo - he wasn't shouting at her because she was a woman. And everyone howling about it was happy enough to see Farage have a milkshake chucked at him.

Parsley4321 · 23/05/2026 08:49

That imbecile Reeves looking like a complete idiot fair play to that chap shouting at her I thought he was very restrained has he not been interviewed yet.
Henry Novak WTF ! How is this possible just how that beautiful boy all life ahead of him fux sake !

LupaMoonhowl · 23/05/2026 08:51

SpaceRaccoon · 23/05/2026 08:45

The Henry Nowak case is heartbreaking and incredibly angering. People hate X but if it hadn't been amplified on there most people wouldn't even know about it.

Can you imagine if this had been a black lad stabbed by a white lad, and the police had then handcuffed him as he lay dying? There would be riots in every city in the UK.
Between that and those gang rapists being let off and praised by the judge, I'm angry.

Also irritated at the disingenious reaction to Reeves' heckling - "you can't shout at her, she's a woman". Cabinet ministers are fair game for that sort of heckling imo - he wasn't shouting at her because she was a woman. And everyone howling about it was happy enough to see Farage have a milkshake chucked at him.

Spot on.
Henry Nowak’s death is absolutely heart-breaking -the lack of coverage on MSM is scandalous.
Why we need X!
Thanks to Elon Musk who does really good stuff but is vilified for being …rich.

Bananarep · 23/05/2026 09:14

Parsley4321 · 23/05/2026 08:49

That imbecile Reeves looking like a complete idiot fair play to that chap shouting at her I thought he was very restrained has he not been interviewed yet.
Henry Novak WTF ! How is this possible just how that beautiful boy all life ahead of him fux sake !

Reeves - the physical embodiment of the ‘moron premium’.

EasternStandard · 23/05/2026 09:15

The Alan Milburn stuff is also annoying. Labour have crashed their opportunities and then blame SM instead.

Get young people into jobs with policy. Not the wrecking ball we have now.

SionnachRuadh · 23/05/2026 09:28

The number of stories you hear about Reeves at events going "do you know who I am" when even mildly challenged - she's one person who really should be heckled more.

Parsley4321 · 23/05/2026 09:30

Yes Rachel we know who you are a financially incontinent twit with no charm or experience in managing a house budget let alone a country

Upstartled · 23/05/2026 10:31

That was brilliant. Couldn't be better timed light relief!

EasternStandard · 23/05/2026 10:40

Haha that’s funny. Love the don’t come up and help bit.

SapphireCasino · 23/05/2026 11:25

LupaMoonhowl · 23/05/2026 08:33

Not much of a journalist then -anyone can appear enthusiastic and well-meaning - even the bollard would manage that doesn’t mean anything.

Edited

I have to speak up in defence of my contact

She was employed on that job to do some good PR for a project. That's what she did. She wasn't employed to challenge Andy Burnham. And there wasn't anything to challenge him about at the time. He was the mayor. The Tories were in power.

She was doing her job perfectly fine.

I think she's interviewed enough of people to realise that they can be absolute arses.

my own experience of bigwigs has also been that they're generally pretty nice but for some reason she was expecting him to be not nice.

So that's all I was saying. She's not saying that him being enthusiastic and well meaning has any deep and meaningful impact on the world. She was just saying that that's how he came across.

I should probably not post casual anecdotes here - I don't have people to chat to in real life so I end up just chatting on here. I won't do it again, it's too highly politically charged now to make a casual comment.

What a pity. I guess it forces me to do something more useful with my bank holiday weekend.