To think Andy Burnham is smug?

[Lyra25]

To think Andy Burnham is smug and presumptuous. Just that really and I have no particular political preference, disillusioned with the lot!

People may say it's actually stronger. He's had executive experience as Mayor that most MPs don't have. He's also been an MP and a minister. Wilson, Blair and Starmer had no governmental experience so he's more than qualified in my view.

Alec Douglas-Home was Foreign Sec before he became PM. He had cabinet experience. Being mayor is nice because you get to spend money and say nice things to people while simultaneously holding Westminster responsible for all the things you can’t do. Let’s see if Burnham is up to the job. It’s not at all clear at the moment.

This thread demonstrates why we have constant political change in this country. The public love to build people up, then tear them down! So many base their votes on perception rather than fact, we have a mob mentality and most have zero understanding of the policies they are voting for.

Kier Starmer resigned very graciously and if he, Burnham and Streeting work together as a team they can do more for the country and the Labour party than they can divided. I think Burnham will be a better leader than Starmer as he is far more personable, articulate and decisive. But there's a place for Starmer's measured approach in other areas of government.

As for claiming that Burnham will be an unelected Prime Minister: it's irrelevant- so many of our PMs come to office mid term for one reason or another- you don't vote for the PM at a general election, you vote for your local MP and it's the winning party that is elected to government, with their leader of choice. If the party wish to change their leader then that is perfectly above board.

Burnham has been in cabinet previously so has cabinet experience

Not for ten years. It’s a nonsense that he can just swan back into the job. He didn’t seem to know what the fiscal rules are when directly asked on Newsnight. Even I know what they are without googling.

What?? He's been Mayor of Greater Manchester, that's a far bigger job than just constituency MP. He's also got previous cabinet experience and MP experience.

The goal posts are moving here so quickly ot is hard to keep up.

Just like you accepted the previous PMs before Starmer. And if Badenoch was elected PM and ousted 2 weeks later you would have to accept that.

You’re missing the point. He’s not been in Westminster for over a decade. It’s not a huge job being mayor of Manchester despite what people seem to think. Setting up a new bus network is incomparable to the challenges he’s going to face.

He reportedly has excellent advisors in Manchester which has helped him, let’s hope he finds the same in Downing Street.

No idea what this means.

Starmer had less experience than Burnham.

You said that it was different because home had cabinet experience

When it was pointed out he did suddenly it wasn't recent enough

Yes, the objections are certainly wide ranging now

I don’t think that sounds as good as you meant it to. Starmer has just resigned.

Well if not needing to know the fiscal rules is fine for our future PM, I’m not sure what more can be said. You seem convinced he’s the right man for the job. I just hope you’re right.

Is that fist among equals some Etonian rite of passage?

though it is ok for people have opinions of course
I despair

I said not for ten years. Maybe you missed that part?

I don't understand the basis of your objection given his experience is adequate and more than his predecessor.

The British public created their own tragic situation by voting for Brexit and will only
compound it by voting for Reform

The “British public” have shown themselces
to be as thick as shit and a real failure of our education system

Andy Burnham has probably more experience than most PMs have. He was an MP for about 15 years before resigning, he's had many roles both in the shadow cabinet and in government including Health secretary. He's been the Mayor of one of the biggest cities in England for several years and been a great success.

He's hardly a 'have-a-go-Joe"

I have no clue how it'll go, neither do you.

I'm just enjoying all the made up objections!

Not in the first message where you stated that the difference between home and Burnham was cabinet experience you didn't

@op I have to agree 100% smug. Whoever takes on the job, has a task, due to the situation being a total shit-show

Oh god, I absolutely can't stand him. He's an unbearably smug, career politician who hasn't worked a day in his life out in the ' real world '. Just because he dresses and talks like ' us', does not make him a man of the people. Beyond fake. How the people of makerfiekd can't see they were being played and exploited is truly beyond me. Well thank you, down to you we're stuck with a unelected prime minister who's in it for the money and prestige and doesn't give a stuff about us. Cheers for that.