What could Andy Burnham do as PM to improve daily life?

[Seasidecatlady]

There are some negative threads about Andy Burnham this morning so I wanted to have something a bit more positive and look at what he could do, if he becomes PM, to help improve our daily lives.

For me it would be:

• re-nationalise water and utility companies and trains
• reverse the national insurance hike for businesses so they can start hiring again and do more to support small businesses in general
• a one off wealth tax to add funding to the defence budget
• reform the student loans system, improve access to apprenticeship and also do more to help job seekers over 50.

This does not happen as a significant thing in Australia, though the state pension has always been means-tested. Having said that, the government makes saving into Super (the non-pension savings scheme) very attractive and compulsory for those in work.

So attractive, the government has been eyeing up the Super savings to shore up their spending.

What has he actually achieved except being a professional Northerner?

All his work has been in the north of England. Is that a problem for you?

It's the constant "I'm a Northerner" I have issue with like its some kind of qualification and not the circumstances of birth.

The government - whoever heads it up - needs to get a serious grip on the economy, big up defence and control immigration.

They need to stop handing out generous benefits, and put the NHS out of its misery and privatise it. Use tax income to boost business, fix the roads, clean up the sodding rivers, stop subsiding unaffordable eco projects that only benefit other countries. Invest in our natural resources, farming, fishing, manufacturing, arts, culture, fashion, R&D, tech etc.

Make it look like Britain is prosperous and open for biz. We’ll all feel better even if it’s an allusion.

Starmer is already renationalising railways etc.

He’s not doing enough imo but that will be unpopular here 🤣

Stagger the pension age. If a job is physically demanding then those working them should be able to retire at 65 whilst those whose jobs involve sitting at a desk all day should retire at a later age.
Reframe care work as a skilled job.
Make ofgen/com/sted, etc fit for purpose
Maintain closer ties with Europe
To think of a few.

Huh? Have you heard of politics?

Stagger the pension age. If a job is physically demanding then those working them should be able to retire at 65 whilst those whose jobs involve sitting at a desk all day should retire at a later age.

I don’t think staggering the pension age is a bad idea but not sure it should just be based on whether a job is physically demanding - there would be too many ways of gaming the system.

Perhaps only qualify for a pension after 45 years of full time NI contributions, but you can take it immediately after 45 years. So people who started working through an apprenticeship or similar at 16 could take their State pension at 61, but if you stayed in education until 30 you’d have to wait until 75.

Khan is the elected Mayor of London. It's nothing to do with Central government, Burnham or frankly, anyone who doesn't live in London what he does. They didn't vote for him and they don't pay for him. It would be like me demanding the mayor of Lincolnshire is sacked when I don't live there.

Quite.

He could not kick off a leadership contest and let us avoid a load of change and instability. There's nothing he can do that's so different from what Starmer can do. He's really not that special.

But I think it's maybe too late for that now.

Fantasy policies but not even farage no Would come up with such rubbish

You’re on your own. we will still vote for him.

Support small businesses that have premises and employees. They are the backbone of our economy and many are really struggling.

Prioritise sectors that employ a lot of young people for support. Get young people into work.

Welfare reform that makes work pay, and also supports people as they make the transition.

Boost funding for serious mental illness (SMI). Support the employer services which help people with SMI get a job/ keep in a job. Apparently their success rate is up to 50% - so I’d say this is money well spent?

Working is good for individuals, good for society, so let’s invest in our businesses and employees.

Then targeted interventions for children struggling with literacy and engaging with school. Use anything that engages them. We have a reading crisis and we must address it if we want to thrive as a country.

Also… talk the country UP please. There is much to celebrate. You’d think we were a poor deprived country the way our residents talk about our country. Keir started it when he became PM- so Burnham needs to reset the tone. We’re on the way up, give us hope.

The UK is the world’s 4th largest economy- we ARE already a global economy and power. We need to get some pride back. Our problem is inequality- so let’s tackle that with the measures above and bring everyone together in building a future successful society and economy.

I’d agree all those, but free university for all vocational professional courses (engineering, law, healthcare etc)

I worked full time for 38 years and paid NI for every month for all of those years. Why am I not entitled to a state pension in addition to my private pension ?

This is a completely unfair and unworkable suggestion. Why should people who are most qualified have to work into their 70s?

Society has to be based on fundamental fairness, and education is necessary for so many jobs, people shouldn't be penalised for being willing to gain knowledge.

This sort of anti-education policy is so short-sighted - we need skilled people, the UK can't fall behind global education standards or our economy will slide backwards.

Support his party leader.
Support his country by not destabilising his government whilst they have a massive majority and the far right are on the march.
Support his government's policies.

Have employers employ disabled staff in some capacity

Cut stamp duty on second homes

Call a general election.

That's the very worst thing he could do for the country and there is absolutely no need to.
Labour has a massive majority. Do you not follow politics at all?

There's no requirement at all, our system is not intended to operate like a presidency.

No people worked for that
cut welfare where people won’t work