Thread 2 Burnham : Coragem e Esperança.

[DuncinToffee]

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https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5556659-thread-1-burnham-esperanza-en-cada-corazon?page=40

That's what I mean by pragmatism. I don't agree with the Reaganism/trickle down economics of that era. But at the time it wasnt a crazy idea and did bring about benefits even as it hurt people/hurt industry long term. You can see how someone who cared about the country but had a different viewpoint on what was the best path would go for it.
Whereas there's more push now for making the evidence fit the ideology and the ideology itself isnt even internally consistent and seems more driven by what's trending on X. And that is a huge change of direction for the Conservative party in particular

Sorry I just realised my comment about pragmatism was in a completely different thread so irrelevant here. But I think UK politics and the Conservatives in particular used to have a strong pragmatic streak and that's what made them so successful. Even if I disagreed. They abandoned all that for some yankified brain rot.

Lest we forget, Clause 28 was also Thatcher. She may have been scientifically interested in AIDS but her stagmatisation of sufferers was appalling as was her attitude to gay people in general.

I occasionally ponder how she would have responded to Covid.

My comment wasn't intended to be abrasive so apologies if it came across that way.

I keep seeing a push for the population to see Burnham as some kind of messiah who is going to save the country. He has not yet laid out a costed plan but is making big announcements that seem pie in the sky.

He is tinkering around the edges and until I see more pps assertions that things are going to plan don't sit right with me. We have yet to see a plan (other than ousting Starmer and putting his supporters into key positions, or was this the plan?).

He has yet to earn my trust or respect and people pushing the rhetoric that he is the only person to save Britain, like his supporters on the news have been doing without evidencing it reinforced my lack of trust.

Language is important.

The meltdown over Manchester is funny

It's bloody nonsense to suggest posters here are treating him like the Messiah.
He's received a fairly critical & cautious welcome over the last few weeks.
He's got a bump in polling. We'll wait to see what happens next.
Don't mischaracterise posts.

Is Burnham being the messiah, saviour coined by his supporters or by the ones who don't want him?

He said he will announce a 10 year plan later in the year, and for now a few feel good announcements don't do him harm

It's only Firday.

I think most left leaning voters see Burnham’s premiership as the last chance saloon @Llttledrummergirl. I know I do. His energy and passion give me hope when I haven’t had any for a very long time. I had a flash of it in 2024 but the Starmer government stamped on the sparks pretty quickly. I’m happy to wait for the plan in September and the next budget before I consign myself to the slough of despond again.

That’s how I feel too. I would very much like to see Burnham succeed in turning things around, but only time will tell.

The Messiah thing is being seized on by the right, that is for sure. Apparently that is how we on the left all see him. 🙄

Parliament is in recess. Burnham can't do anything big right now. I am Burnham-sceptic, but I am willing to wait, the same as @BIossomtoes

I agree language is important. Which is why you shouldn't reimagine my words 'strong start in cementing his image...' as 'he is the messiah'. Because accusing those who comment positively on Burnham as believing him to be a messiah is equally problematic, and reminiscent of the belittling of his supporters by the right, who want to paint us as adoring fan girls incapable of being objective or thinking critically, so not to be trusted or taken seriously.
I think he has made a strong start in cementing his image as a man of the people.
I think this because he has made an announcement every day so far of small positives for people, each time referencing back, you told me, I listened, I've done..
He has dispensed with the unpopular DID and has paused the equally unpopular early release scheme. He has made a big announcement about social housing and has placed people in the cabinet who may offer reassurance to people who told him they were concerned about immigration and defence.
Its far too early to say whether he will BE a man of the people. I'm saying that so far he has made a strong start on looking as though he will. And when the context is fighting off Farage, that's a positive.
In my opinion. 😊

Farage seems a little spooked by Burnham as do others on the right. I think they are scared he might actually have a chance of turning things around.

🙏

Agreed. They're just flogging a dead horse now with the 'Messiah without a mandate' schtick.

We haven’t heard much from Farage lately, have we? Which is odd for someone seeking reelection. I’m sure it’s coincidental but the number of anti immigrant threads/posts here has fallen at the same time. Very strange.

Andy Burnham might not have been the only hope for the country and the Labour Party but he is what we have got and none of us could change that, right now, even if we wanted to. We are mostly passive observers. We can only hope that the early quick fix announcements will be followed by some solid policies, put together over the summer recess.

I agree with the sentiment, expressed earlier this week, that whoever is in power, whether I like them or not, I want them to do a good job.

He is busy on X posting extremely cringeworthy videos of the public treating him...like the Messiah! 🤣🤢🤮

I think benefits and pensions are on this week's task list.

I've said before, I'm a swing voter, I will look at who is offering the most in line with what I would do. I didn't agree with everything Starmer did, but I could see the quiet gains his government were making. They appeared to have a direction of travel even if it was slow.

I see that the MPs became impatient, a lot were fairly new and susceptible to polls and negative media coverage and panicked. Burnham stepped into the gap. That he was voted in by most of the labour parliamentary party gives me cult vibes, in my experience, nobody is that popular.

I really hope I'm wrong and the upheaval is worth it, I want the government and country to do well. The proof of the pudding is in the eating as they say.

In contrast to Blossom feeling hope, I feel as though it has been ripped away and replaced with uncertainty. I need to see his road map.

Farage has been instructing his party members to spin the 'witch hunt' 'hit job' line regarding his finances.

Both the FT and Bylines Times ran stories on Cottrell again the last few days.

Another one here happy to wait and see whether AB is the messiah or just "a very naughty boy".

I am a little taken aback by how PPs seem to be piling on this week - it's been 4 days!

Oh look, these were the ones answering Farage's pure cold rage call

Most people arrested during Henry Nowak protests had been reported for domestic abuse

Exclusive: Hampshire police data reveals 22 of 37 detained had been accused or convicted of intimate partner violence

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/jul/24/most-people-arrested-during-henry-nowak-protests-had-been-reported-for-domestic-abuse?

I am shocked, shocked I tell thee.

Well blow me down with a feather!

Well that's the very last thing I would have expected...