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Original poster

Andy Burnham for PM?

199 replies

rabbitheadlights · 15/10/2020 17:11

Exactly that .

OP posts:
Botherfreedays · 15/10/2020 19:44

Well he's failed as a leader as hospitals in his area are close to not coping. Why hasn't he been able to lead people to exercise hygiene measures etc etc?

DynamoKev · 15/10/2020 19:44

People have short memories - Burnham was all for draconian measures when it suited him.

MrsGrindah · 15/10/2020 19:44

No. I’ve come across him through work. He’s absolutely out for the glory and like so many politicians only cares about the rhetoric. Don’t be fooled by this man,

Hopeful201 · 15/10/2020 19:47

I think he is out for himself, labour don't seem to know if they want a full lockdown or not either. Reminds me of the Brexit fiasco.
I did like what he said about the exam chaos, he was bang on about that.
I have a worry he may be completely wrong about lockdown for Manchester, it will be awful if there is a big rise in deaths. I hope I am wrong.
I don't blame anyone for being angry about being moved into the higher tiers, I would be fuming too.

CrappleUmble · 15/10/2020 19:48

He's a mayor, not even an MP.

Not even? His position is much more powerful and influential than that of an MP: those MPs who have more power than him do so because of other roles on top of it. But in any case, every single MP in Greater Manchester is currently opposed to the way the government are handling the situation. There is a reason for that.

Hopeisnotastrategy · 15/10/2020 19:54

He's grandstanding and playing with people's lives and financial wellbeing.

If we're not careful we could end up with problems like Spain's, many of which stem from the infighting between the government and the provincial leaders, notably Madrid.

CrappleUmble · 15/10/2020 19:57

There isn't really a way to be a politician in the UK and not be playing with people's lives and financial wellbeing at the moment.

Fannybawz · 15/10/2020 20:10

I would
He has beautiful eyes
I’ve always fancied him Star

AnneElliott · 15/10/2020 20:21

He's a lovely person but I wouldn't want him running the county. And he's absolutely a politician through and through. Very concerned about what the front pages will say - and decides his course of action accordingly. And very good at spin!

Sickoffamilydrama · 15/10/2020 20:35

@Hopeisnotastrategy

He's grandstanding and playing with people's lives and financial wellbeing.

If we're not careful we could end up with problems like Spain's, many of which stem from the infighting between the government and the provincial leaders, notably Madrid.

Couldn't agree more about the grandstanding. Definitely he's interested in the PR, didn't seem to care about helping us during the start of the pandemic...with anything practical other than being seen to tell off "evil" companies publicly! Who were actually doing the right thing by their employees but he was far too busy getting the PR to notice he was actually doing harm.
puffinsseagulls · 15/10/2020 20:42

This speech might be the biggest regret of his life if the death toll in Manchester is higher than anywhere else in coming months.

That would be the fault of the Government. Even their own scientists have said tier 3 won't be enough. They have had 7 months to sort out test track and trace and the contact tracing is really low. The whole thing has been badly handled by the government.

It's very obvious now that they are trying to pass the blame onto mayors and anybody else they can blame. Some idiots will lap that up.

puffinsseagulls · 15/10/2020 20:44

I think he is out for himself, labour don't seem to know if they want a full lockdown or not either.

Not true, because labour have quite clearly asked for a 2-3 week circuit break lockdown as recommended by SAGE.

ImEatingVeryHealthilyOhYes · 15/10/2020 20:46

Fannybawz my contribution to this thread is to say he’s got the loveliest eyelashes of any politician I’ve ever met.

I’m a labour member but still distancing myself and jaded from the corbyn takeover. I’ll pull myself together for the next general election. Might go to conference though if it’s ever in person again, it’s everything I love, party politics plus actual parties

Frouby · 15/10/2020 20:52

I watched him and initially thought hmmm, it's all well and good saying he wants 80% furlough etc, but then he was asked why the government won't give it him because there is no money left. And then he went on to say because its been spent on a t and t system that isn't fit for purpose so I can actually see his point and agree with him.

CrappleUmble · 15/10/2020 21:03

@puffinsseagulls

This speech might be the biggest regret of his life if the death toll in Manchester is higher than anywhere else in coming months.

That would be the fault of the Government. Even their own scientists have said tier 3 won't be enough. They have had 7 months to sort out test track and trace and the contact tracing is really low. The whole thing has been badly handled by the government.

It's very obvious now that they are trying to pass the blame onto mayors and anybody else they can blame. Some idiots will lap that up.

Yep. They're wanting to do severe economic damage for something that their own advisers say won't work. This is why legal action has been a potent threat: Boris doesn't want to show his working out. If he thought there was a case for Manchester being in Tier 3 that wouldn't be politically embarrassing to make, we'd be in it now.
Fannybawz · 15/10/2020 21:05

@ImEatingVeryHealthilyOhYes

Fannybawz my contribution to this thread is to say he’s got the loveliest eyelashes of any politician I’ve ever met.

I’m a labour member but still distancing myself and jaded from the corbyn takeover. I’ll pull myself together for the next general election. Might go to conference though if it’s ever in person again, it’s everything I love, party politics plus actual parties

His eyebrows always look suspiciously threaded however

And I was disappointed with his locks today, bit flat..!.

echt · 15/10/2020 21:06

I've just watched his speech to the press on YouTube and he reminded me of Ross, the jobseeker mole in "The League of Gentlemen":

ZombieFan · 15/10/2020 21:11

@rabbitheadlights

UC which will take weeks if not months whenh people who have already faced 7 months of wages below 100% and no doubt already have mounting debts from making up the shortfall? That's gonna be great for MH, child poverty, diet, pre existing conditions etc
A UC advance can be given (and into your bank account) literally the day you apply.
DynamoKev · 15/10/2020 21:12

@Fannybawz

I would He has beautiful eyes I’ve always fancied him Star
FFS
Hazelnutlatteplease · 15/10/2020 21:16

It's amazing how universal credit is fine for the disabled but not for your average person.

Viviennemary · 15/10/2020 21:19

Why on earth Labour didnt get rid of Corbyn before he was allowed to decimate the Labour vote is a mystery. A leftie friend tried to explain that it was the Labour rules governing the procedure for ousting the party leader. Confused and the big chiefs wanted Corbyn.

CrappleUmble · 15/10/2020 21:23

They tried. The membership wanted him to stay.

Foobydoo · 15/10/2020 21:28

@Wherehavetheteletubbiesgone

Let him avoid his lockdown when the hospitals in his city get overwhelmed Manchester knows who blocked it. Why should I in my low COVID area suffer because Mancunians keep passing covid amongst themselves?
This is very unfair and also short sighted. Numbers were very low in the North West in March when we went into national lockdown. We were told local lockdowns wouldn't work because people move geographically. This should work both ways. This is one of the reasons the local lockdowns are not working at the moment. There is far too much movement geographically both necessary and unnecessary. I would bet my house that droves of people from Liverpool will be visiting other areas for pubs this weekend. My town had extremely low numbers before they shut the pubs in Bolton. Now it is very high and rising. It is only a matter of weeks before the virus will spread and multiply in tier 1 areas.

This

thecatsatonthewall · 15/10/2020 21:29

@Botherfreedays

Well he's failed as a leader as hospitals in his area are close to not coping. Why hasn't he been able to lead people to exercise hygiene measures etc etc?
He isn't responsible for the shockingly bad state of healthcare in this country. Which is proven to have helped the UK have one of the worst excess death rates in the world.

Nor is he responsible for the lack of trust or leadership in & shown by Boris Johnson.

CrappleUmble · 15/10/2020 21:41

He particularly isn't responsible for the national lockdown having been both imposed and lifted on London's timetable, with zero thought to the north.