To think Andy Burnham needs to start to show us he can talk about more than "the north" and "buses"

[joeymaynardssandwiches]

I want to get behind Andy Burnham, I feel he's got the potential to be a great counterpoint to the rise of reform. And I do know it's "silly season" in politics and with parliament closed I guess there's a limit on what initiatives can be announced

But so far it feels like he hasn't broken away from being a northern caricature who just bangs on about buses.

I'm a "northerner" (who always thought of Manchester as the part of Midlands ) but I can only do my job in the south and I can assure Andy there are big pockets of deprivation in the south too.

And I am all for public transport, and investment in it. But it just feels like a real "low hanging fruit" approach for his first few weeks and I want to hear him talk about thornier and less uncontroversial issues.

And admittedly I haven't been reading every news story in depth as I have been busy with the kids so he may have discussed other things. But that is my overriding impression at the moment and it feels a bit frustrating

Huh?

Isn’t it at least a bit true?

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/suspected-people-smuggling-gang-taken-down-in-nationwide-strikes

https://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/news/four-arrested-in-germany-as-part-of-major-international-operation-targeting-channel-small-boat-people-smuggling-network

https://www.cps.gov.uk/cps/news/people-smugglers-jailed-uk-france-operation

Re professional northerner accusations - he does have to be alive to this though.
As a proud northerner who reluctantly lives in the south I have no issue with his background or accent (indeed I don't even notice the accent )

But it feels grating for it to be focused on repeatedly because there is grinding poverty in the south too. And also if you are on a modest /public sector salary in the south life feels far shitter than if you have the same job in the north because house prices are so much higher, and childcare costs are so much higher. And there's no recognition at all yet of those kind of complex issues

So reducing the boat crossings is bad because Labour are doing it? I see. Of course it is very bad for the right wing parties because it is the only policy slogan they have and Labour is spoiling it for them.

I don’t see why posters are happy with French police using tear gas and riot gear and then talk about ‘far right’. There’s not much in it.

Its not bad for the Conservatives if Labour succeed on the crossings. It helps them.

True. They've been slashing boats full of people.

That has nothing to do with being middle class. Presumably with a life limiting condition he would be eligible for disability benefits, it is his choice not to claim them. Just as it is your choice to claim child benefit. I also assume he will claim his state pension when he gets there. All of those have qualifying elements, all are paid by current taxes, not something you pay into and draw down from. If his pride is getting in the way of him claiming something he is eligible for and which could be used to provide something that makes his life easier, isn’t that a bad thing? I’ve never understood why people refuse help then make themselves seem superior to those who take help that is offered.

Or are you suggesting working class people, who also drag themselves out to work despite chronic pain, and claim disability benefits to pay for things they need to manage their condition, are wrong to do so?

@EasternStandard
And what would Kemi do? Invite them for a cup of tea and a scone and tell them to stop being bad boys smuggling people? From what I have seen the French Police were responding to being physically attacked.

Well yes if you’re going to rely on French police to deal with our border it can easily escalate and probably will.

Whether the French keep voting to do it for us we’ll see.

Would you be ok with the French police using tear gas, batons, slashing boats full of people if Reform were in government?

@Nuthatch26
Yes, on the shore. The people just walked off, though some got angry. They specifically refuse to tackle the boats which have launched and are in open water due to the risks for the people onboard.

To add “propping up the country” is a bit of a stretch.

Unpaid carers save the government £184 billion each year. Almost a quarter of these live in poverty. 30% work for minimum wage, 40% Earn less than the average wage. Only around 10% could be considered to be “middle class” or above. It is fair to say this is definitely helping prop up the country.

Yes to the boats on the shore being slashed with no danger to people, yes to police of any country responding to being violently attacked.

Being a “ leftist” doesn’t equal supporting crime.

No to using Navy to turn the boats and violating other countries’ sovereignty.

I don't think Labour supporters would be ok with it if it was happening under a government you didn't like. Time will tell.

I think far right supporters are just angry that Labour is doing something about it. How will the likes of Farage attract voters if Labour are effective in tackling illegal immigration? Stop the boats is the extent of their manifesto.

I just don’t see much between what you’re advocating and the far right term. You’re up for physically stopping people crossing.

I expect we will continue to get a sprinkling of feel good sweeties until the budget when we get slammed with massive tax rises to pay for it all.

He can work, so he works. we’ve never discussed disability as it’s never been required. He’s one of those rare people who isn’t plugging his stats into Entitled to and seeing what he can cream off. He works and pays his taxes to ensure that everyone else gets their free money.

Its looking more likely. Burnham has refused to rule out tax rises today.

I love the claim of superiority because he has the audacity to not claim benefits. I think that’s actually the first time I’ve ever heard that 🤣. Mumsnet never fails to provide.

Of course he has refused to rule out tax rises. They’ll be another boat of fresh welfare claimants launching off from the shore soon and someone got to pay their weekly hand out. Better check how much I’ve got left in savings incase Andy needs it.

You really don’t? No difference between preventing people from starting the journey vs putting them in detention centres here and then using the navy to forcefully take them back violating the international laws and other countries’ sovereignty? Ok then.

Well yeh. You’re on a beach in France and police are with tear gas and riot gear plus knives to slash boats.

It’s going to be chaotic and scary, plus women and children tend to get crushed.

Does that sound good to you? Ok then.

Indeed.