To think Andy Burnham is doing a decent job so far?

[spiceupyourlives]

I’m really impressed by him working with the tories and Lib Dems on social care. It’s what we’ve needed more of in this country for so long, and a solution to the crisis will only come about if the next party to take charge is also committed to the solution.

How is he doing that? What actual power is he taking out of London and putting into Manchester?

We have a Labour MP ( well did, he's under police investigation for misconduct in public office), Labour county and local councillors and the Labour controlled WECA which cancelled the funding for most of the services a while ago

Forgive me if I don't believe a word that Labour says.

Give him a chance, then judge performance. No wonder UK is in the doldrums with such negative attitudes from so many about so much.

A lot of posters were really happy when labour were voted in but then it went pear shaped.
But having said that, I'd rather have any party in power except for the brain dead Reform.

They were accusing a middle-aged woman of being a heroin addict and a prostitute. They can't go a 15-minute bus ride without vaping.

@ruffler45
Why cuckoo land?
Andy Burnham wants to give more powers to the councils and this is the way to go to have reliable public transport. The places where bus companies are owned by councils provide the best service because the profits are invested back into it.
I live in a town like this. There are some negative things I could say about my town, but the bus service is fabulous.

A smallish posh town nearby, where I used to live, had a nightmare bus service. We called them “pensioners buses” as there were only a few routes so the buses went round in circles, collecting every body who wanted to use the service around town. It took ages to get anywhere so they were no use to commuters.The service also stopped in early evening.
A few years ago Torries lost the local election after decades of being in control. Lib Dems took over, and guess what? Now they have reliable transport with a lot of new routes. A lot of people of use the service now even if they are in a hurry. I am still in shock whenever I am there and see buses running at night.

It proves that it can be done. Though probably not in the councils where Torries or Reform are in power.

I've just seen his interview with This morning, and he sounds a breath of fresh air. I like some of his ideas and the fact he is raising issues such as the cost of living and our dying high street. I hope he is successful.

Oh my goodness AT LAST someone is talking about doing something about the care system. Bring on the ten percent taz on inheritances if it sorts it out. Please Andy Burnham make good on at least this promise. But yeah I really like what he’s doing in general , changing stuff that really affects people and can be fmdone quickly and easily

I think he's doing OK and looking for this he can do that will make a positive difference.

I am on bluesky and I am a bit sick of the endless cynicism on the political left (of which I am a part) about how he's terrible and awful and just another Starmer. It would be fair to at least give him a chance.

Whi cares as long as the care system is sorted out?

i think he’s pragmatic. If that’s what it takes to get youngsters into apprenticeships and careers then go for it. I’d probably expect that there be an expectation on attendance rates to actually get the money.

If they can all agree on and come up with a system, then regardless of who's in power it will be followed through. It's not going to work overnight and who knows how long AB or labour with be in power.

I really hope it is sorted as things are only going to get worse. The care system needed sorting by yesterday and politicians not collectively finding a solution are letting everyone down

Well maybe he’ll save you from having to sell up your house for care in the future? Or ensure you get a bed in hospital if you need it because places will be freed up by those that ‘only’ need care getting it without being stuck in hospital.

Sorry to be negative, but it’s the Labour back benches and unions who have the power.

Forgive me if I don’t get too excited with Burnham.

Well let’s see when he gets to the tough stuff. To begin with I thought he had confused his job title with Father Christmas.

Cross party working for big stuff though is a promising approach to health and social care. Hope it brings a better solution.

Not my grandchildren. And living very rurally, transport won’t help either as it’d be a two and a half mile journey to a main road.

Changes have to be made and some will cost us all more, but that’s the way it is. Anything he announces costing money, the right will whine about while simultaneously saying he’s not going far enough!
But let’s give it a chance…

I have a more positive outlook. No home owned anyway.

I am also a pretty positive person but I like to be well insured. Elderly people often need care no matter how positive they are and people in general need hospital beds whether they have a positive attitude or not.

They'll be the same "kind" of parents who only have children for more benefits and expect them to look after them in their old age!

It’s very impressive that you and your family don’t need any help from any one who trained through an apprenticeship. You must all be very talented, electricians, plumbers, builders, engineers…
All that and none of you ever use public transport, although if you choose to live 2 miles from a main road complaining about buses is a bit much.

Firstly, my DH and then both children, and a DiL completed apprenticeships, them getting paid £100 ish a week. All are still working in their chosen profession, but all have taken further qualifications, again at some cost to themselves. My SiL completed the equivalent in the armed forces and is now part of the first responder profession.
And secondly, I purely pointed out the fact that transport improvements were no use to me, or many others in remote locations. I didn’t moan about it.

So when New Labour massively invested in the apprenticeship system, restructured and funded it you benefited as did all your family. If AB wants to improve this system further, as he has started to do in Manchester, then you must see how it is good for the country?

Or did you mean it won’t benefit you now and you don’t care about others as your family all have their qualifications. AB is making technical qualifications more accessible - surely you must see how that’s a good thing?

He'll never reduce the welfare bill - the back benches will see to that. So many people fleecing the system especially on PIP where applications are nearly all on line so easier to lie. You can be earning £200,000 and still be eligible as it's not means tested.
Also I know that many are using AI to fill in their forms so the right key words are used.