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

This thread pretty much confirms that British politics is now fundamentally unserious. It’s all just a big old laugh to some people, a live soap opera.

We’re fucked really.

Labour won the election, not Keir Starmer.

If the majority of Labour MPs want Andy Burnham as their leader, and one of them is willing to give up their seat to allow AB to become an MP, that is their right.

This thread pretty much confirms that British politics is now fundamentally unserious. It’s all just a big old laugh to some people, a live soap opera.

We’re fucked really.

Yes, I wouldn't be that shocked to see them be the largest party but they're not getting near a majority because they're too polarising.

Well if they are as ambitious and hungry for power as Burnham, I would say the idea of a coalition with Reform would be appealing. All politicians can be bought.

Mackersfield aren't voting for the PM any more than the people of Ilford North were when they elected (and nearly didn't elect!) Wes Streeting. They'll be voting for an MP who then has the opportunity to challenge the PM and stand for leadership if they have sufficient support from Labour MPs, and then it will be the Labour Party membership who choose.

Obviously it's a bizarre situation in that they by-election has only been contrived for this purpose but they're still just voting for an MP who like any other Labour MP would be able to mount a challenge to the PM.

I really hope it is AR, that will be an absolutely mental muppet show to behold, get loads of popcorn folks!

The level of ignorance and gullibility among the voters really scares me.

My guess is actually reform will win. So what will Labour do then?

ask someone else to resign and try again, and if they continue as they are lose to reform again

They need to stop the infighting, give something back to voters, so maybe increase tax brackets or something so it feels better for everyone , stop trying to be back to the EU via the back door, stop the green malarkey increase defence spending sort the nhs and benefits out

Maggie Oliver has been approached to stand in Makerfield
G'wan Mags 🥰😍

Now you're talking!

Of course they will, no one wants to look like the SNP lunatics denying democracy to Reform voters do they (especially when it is half the country voting Reform, LOL) KB will be first in line to deal with Farage, all she has done is quote his playbook since she got a handle on working the camera anyway?

Can you elaborate, or do you only do soundbites?

Well that would certainly be great entertainment value!

If half the country voted Reform I hugely doubt they'd be in a position where they had to seek coalition partners. Our system theoretically allows that to happen, but it's a long time since half of even votes cast were for one party. And they got a majority of seats. We're talking about a hypothetical where they have much less support.

Conservative changed PM several times

He will need to be an MP before he can go for the Labour leadership

Starmer should not have stopped him from standing several months ago before the poor loca election results. That was undemocratic this is not.

Reform have their chance.If you want the BNP in do your best

She is my local MP. I would love to see the back of the pair of them.

It wasn’t a great win at all. Only 20.1% of the voting age electorate voted Labour in the last election. That is not what I would call a colossal win at all. 8.5% voted Reform, who have grown in popularity massively since the GE.

We are destined for a Reform / Reform coalition next time.

Labour are stabbing themselves in the backs by getting rid of Starmer. They already looked incompetent. Now they look incompetent and divided. Replacing Starmer with an even more left wing pm like Burnham will just make them even more unpopular and will be a gift to Reform in the longer term.

Some light education for you for starters.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2026/may/05/reform-uk-immigration-policies-uk-economy-election

By minuscule % of the voting age electorate. That’s not democracy.

Talking of stunted growth, that's what we've got right now.

They can"t stop, it is a disease, bending the knee to the EU and doling out cash to people who will never do a days meaningful work in their life is in their DNA, they have to go, red team/blue team is finished in the UK. Hopefully whatever clown they elect to leader will really move things to a proper bond market showdown so we can get an early election and get the country ( 5th or 6th biggest economy in the world FFS!) back on track.

I said colossal majority, which it was. That's a factual description. Yes, there is room for discussion on whether it's either a good or a sustainable win to have a system that creates said colossal majority on such a low percentage of public vote, but that does require naming the issue accurately.

I mean they definitely have got good things done as a government. Having a Labour government has made a positive difference and they're dealing with an incredibly challenging environment.

But I've heard too many reports (from people without a particular axe to grind) that the lack of direction from No 10 has been a significant impediment to not take them seriously. I started as a Starmer supporter and I thought that even if he wasn't Mr Charisma then he would excel in having that grip on things, and yet that seems to have been exactly what has been lacking.

I work in a politically-adjacent job and I think it's really evident that people have been despairing over Starmer for quite a while over the u-turns, decisions that aren't getting made, lack of central action and failure to prioritise.

And as you say, whether you agree or disagree with any of this I don't think anyone can argue with the fact that the public have really turned against Starmer (to an extent I don't really understand) in a way I think is impossible to turn around. Changing leader is going to be messy but I think it's inevitable now.

So...stop being Labour then? Closer alignment with the EU, green policy, and spending fairly on benefits are pretty much Labour DNA.

And nobody can sort the NHS out, unfortunately. There just isn't enough money coming in.