Andy Burnham - how can this be allowed?

[Boopybop]

I know that there is a long way to go over the coming weeks, with by-elections and leadership challenges. But fundamentally - how can it be right that a man who was not even a candidate in the General Election, was therefore not voted for in the General Election - become Prime Minister? Effectively, the people of Makerfield are selecting the country’s new Prime Minister (as it is pretty obvious that AB would win a leadership contest).

This feels wholly undemocratic in every way.

AIBU - Andy Burnham has every right to become PM

AINBU - it is not right that a by-election in Makerfield can determine who the next Prime Minister will be

I dont think you understand how our democratic process works. Every prime minister is also elected as an MP by a relatively small number of people in one constituency. Have you not been paying attention as we have cycled through an endless number of PMs in the last few years

We don’t elect a PM though. We elect our own MP

There is no guarantee he will win the seat.

Because we’re not American and we don’t vote for leaders! We vote for parties and what that party does within itself is for members of that party to decide.

Oh - I have been paying a huge amount of attention thanks, and I fully understand the process. However, the fact is that the people of Makerfield are likely to choose the next Prime Minister. A person who didn’t even stand in the ‘actual’ General Election. Just does not sit right with me at all.

Let’s face it - yes, the process is that in a GE - you vote for your local MP. In reality though, in a GE - people are voting for who will be the next Prime Minister. Andy Burnham was not voted for in the General Election.

I dont think he will win the seat 😅 then itll be reform there AND a refom mayor...

YANBU and I am two steps away from starting a national brigading campaign.

It only feels undemocratic if you don't understand how our democratic system works - we elect a political party, not a prime minister.

I don't think you do understand.

You're correct of course, and YANBU. However this is the labour party, and the labour party have proven to be a sorry pile of highly incompetent weasels. So this is just business as usual for them.

They don't care about the electorate (well, apart from the local AB one), and they Really don't care about the tax paying majority. Sooner they go the better. It is going to be a long 3 years. We are paying for them - how do we get rid of them? Vote for the Conservatives in 2027. Kemi Badenoch for the win.

I am not (and never will be) a Reform voter. But this outcome would be hilarious!

This is a genuine possibility.

But we did vote for a manifesto and it would be un democratic for AB to become PM and deviate wildly from it plus all the arguments Labour made when the tories were playing musical chairs

people have been questioning our system for years now so will be interesting to see if this makes calls for change stronger or not

Yes you don't need to explain - that's just nefarious posts pretending you don't understand. It's clear what you meant.

I'm torn about this. On the one hand, I think that if the governing Party changes leader, for any reason, including severe illness/ death, there should be a GE, on the other hand, I think AB would do a much better job than KS, or indeed, any other party leader currently available.

However any elected MP is at liberty to stand down, for any reason during a term of gvt, which then must trigger a by-election. And there's a long way to go yet.
I do think it would have been far better for the Labour Party to allow AB to stand in G&D, where he would most likely have won and there would have been no hint of jiggery-pokery.

The populace dont elect the pm. Each party's members elect a leader. The leader of the party in government is the pm

I don’t think labour understand it’s not the leader who’s unpopular it’s the whole party.

That said as a fellow ginger who also became a mum at 16 I’m genuinely a little upset Burnham is taking this opportunity from the “growler” very disappointing

Not necessarily. Firstly, the Labour NEC have not selected the candidate who will run in the election. It is not guaranteed that it will be Andy Burnham. Secondly, no leadership challenge has been triggered. Thirdly, Andy Burnham, even if he is the candidate selected by Labour, is not guaranteed to win.

If Reform win there, it will be a huge own goal for Labour. They are just making shit decision after shit decision at the moment.

And the lord said "smile and be happy, things could be worse".

So I smiled and was happy, and behold, things got worse.

What would that involve?

You’re not though. The party elects the leader, there’s absolutely no guarantee that the leader on election day will remain so throughout the term. Did you miss the Tory party members voting for Liz Truss?

AB will have been elected by his constituents if he ends up as PM. Same as anyone else who throws their hat in the ring.

If Starmer were to go to bat for him, I suspect this could push events even more towards that possibility!

Well that's the other aspect of this. Labour gambling with safe seats. Like they did with G&D - and LOST. And now as you say the same could happen here. Typical Labour fcking over the electorate.

Labour are doing everything they can to give Reform control. Reforms greatest gift.

I am also NOT a reform voter. But I do live in Manchester and the way reform has swept the board at last weeks council election is anything to go by...

AND if I was a constituent in Makerfield id be mighty pissed off at being a pawn in the game.

Let’s face it - yes, the process is that in a GE - you vote for your local MP. In reality though, in a GE - people are voting for who will be the next Prime Minister. Andy Burnham was not voted for in the General Election.

No, you're repeating the error from your first post. That's not how it works and not what people do.

There was a thread on this yesterday and it was shown that the UK has had more PMs that were not leader of their party during a general election than those that were.

So unfortunately we are too late this time. But I kicked myself multiple times with the tories and again with this now.

So the idea is after every GE. The Brigade sign up to the winning party. We then will be eligible to vote.

Which unfortunately included paying for party membership. So it’s undemocratic imo but it’s the only way to have a say on the leadership in the current system and history has shown me I am loosing out on 50% of the voting.

So basically a band of us sign up, say hello and then go silent until we awake to strike and brigade the vote.