To want Andy Burnham to challenge for the Labour leadership

[Spiritofeden87]

I’m a big fan of Andy Burnham- I think he’s clear, principled, has done some good stuff in Manchester and would be great as Labour leader. I saw him speak a while ago at a festival and he was great- said it took being mayor of greater Manchester to understand fully what he believes in. Which is nationalised train travel, council houses, abolishing the 2 child cap, etc.

Am sure all the Farage nuts will be along in a short while to tell me immigrants are eating swans (!) but I think Andy is just what Labour need to unify and get back to some proper social justice values rather than chasing down the far right.

Starmer is truly truly terrible and his position is untenable.

He might well be brilliant but I can't see it happening. The route there is too hard to navigate.

I think he has played his hand too early. Steamer is on alert now and will, sensibly, block any attempt he makes to become an MP. I think he would have stood more chance if he had bided his time rather than causing a fuss now.

In the window from now to June/July 2026 -which northern labour MP is going to give up their seat for AB to parachute into (if that was even possible, NEC have a say in candidate selection) and which northern labour seat has an impenetrable lead that wouldn't be vulnerable to a Tory/Reform non aggression pact in which a Reform candidate could win, flip a seat and give both AB and KS a bloody nose

I think I read that there is a seat where someone is about to stand down and there have already been discussions with Burnham.

I don’t think he’s played his hand too soon- Starmer’s government is an absolute bin fire and there needs to be action to keep pit Farage and the far right and action soon!

@Spiritofeden87 even if someone is going to stand down (I've not heard of that -I've heard mention of a 2028 role swap) how does AB make it to the top of the candidate selection process, and that doesn't answer the question of Reform throwing everything at it to win the seat. Your suggestion of action soon could increase Reform trajectory - "Reform beats labour's great hope" etc

Absolutely the fuck not. He’s advocating even more tax and spending than the current economic catastrophe of a cabinet. He also doesn’t know what a woman is.

he can get in the bin.

There was speculation that Andrew Gwynne would retire soon. It was unrelated and not specifically to give Burnham an opportunity but could have been a chance. But he said a few days ago that he will be staying put.

Yes possibly. I guess it depends where he stands. But I think he’s quite popular and frankly, things are so bad with Starmer that I am up for anyone giving it a go! And Burnham is a decent bloke- got a lot of respect during Covid too and the way he handled himself.

For transparency too, I am a member of the Green Party so have no vested interest other than wanting some decent progressive voices. I loathe Starmer too.

I'd just like Labour to get on with running the country.

That’s possibly what I read! Will be interesting to see what Labours NEC make of it all. Esp if Burnham saying he’s getting loads orders requests to throw his hat in the ring!

Angela Rayner may fancy a role swap and moving to Mayor of GM -but her majority is only 8k and Reform had an increase of 16% in vote share whilst AR dropped over 3%.
The Speaker may want to step aside at next election, could he be persuaded to go early? However, we don't know the robustness of his majority as the major parties didn't field candidates against him in the last election.

A couple of Liverpool MPs look to have decent majorities but again, they are constituencies that would be on Reform's target list I'd have thought.

So would I. But the current bin fire bears no resemblance to Labour!

Out of interest OP who did you vote for in the Green Party leadership?

I'm Labour, have had doubts about AB in the past but now think he is the best chance of rescuing the party, the Government and more importantly all of us. I have no idea what Starmer and Co stand for or what they are doing and they need fresh (but experienced) eyes.

He blows with the wind! He’s not even an MP!

Sheffield Hallam has a Labour mp and would never ever vote Reform.

She’s not interested in it though.

I wouldn't be so sure Hoyle's majority is secure. Lancashire voted for Reform at the locals, and people here are pretty pissed off.

Boris was a mayor and fancied a shot at leadership of the Conservatives. That didn’t end well.

To clarify, I'm not saying Reform will unseat him as the speaker, but that if he stood down and another person stood with all other parties standing, I reckon Reform would have a good chance.

Well when we were on the eve of the last general election and everyone was orgasmic at the thought of a future Labour government, I said be careful what you wish for

I'll say it again, be careful what you wish for

Starmer is doing really well internationally and I dont think Burnham would. Shame they can't do a job share and Burnham can just focus on the UK stuff.

@JazzyJelly I wasn't saying his majority was secure at all - I was pointing out it was a false majority as none of the other major parties stood against him as he was standing as Speaker not a labour candidate as per (inconsistently applied) convention.

Yes. Absolutely!

And I still believe Nige and his ‘immigrants are eating swans’ will implode- especially with the likes of Arron Banks basically going all Pol Pot and saying academics should be shot at dawn. It’s incredible stuff.

That's hilarious 😂

This! This in spades!!!

Hid comments about not wanting to be in hock to the bond markets while advocating for more spending outs him as a dangerously thick idiot! How stupid can you get!!! I’ve voted Labour for the last 4 elections. There’s no way I’d vote for the economic apocalypse he’s talking about. Fuck me!

And in what way is he going to make a difference? From what I've read he's planning on spending more, and apart from the lowest earners hes going to tax the living shit out of everyone else. Hardly any different than Starmer. Oh wait, I think he'd be actually worse!