Page 5 | Why do you think Andy Burnham would be a good Prime Minister?

CurlewKate · 2026-05-16T08:41:40+00:00

I’m looking for solid practical reasons. I get that he’s got charisma and nice eyelashes and has done a good job as Mayor. But apart from that? What IS it about him that makes people think he’d be good at the job?

Jedentag · 20/05/2026 11:33

TemperanceWest · 20/05/2026 09:26

I am not a fan of Burnham, but it is worth a) reading what he actually said and b) bearing in mind the audience he was addressing.

He was asked whether men who self-identify as women should be allowed to use women's toilets.

He replied: 'Clearly there is a group of people who do feel that toilets should be a safe space only for women and there should not be anyone biologically a male allowed in that space.I don't think that's a majority view. I think it's a minority view and quite a small minority view, actually. But it is a view so you can't completely ignore it. Possibly they might be women who have experienced male violence at some point in their life. I don't know, that's one way of looking at it.'

He added: 'The idea that people are falsely portraying their gender in a different way just because they want to abuse a women's space or encroach on women's safety… maybe it happens but you are talking a tiny, tiny, tiny number of people.

'So why are we allowing everyone to get into this really polarised and terribly hateful debate about these issues?

'I am going to make it really plain: I support trans rights and I want that to be known.'

Incredibly disappointing from Burnham.

ViolaPlains · 20/05/2026 15:59

BIossomtoes · 20/05/2026 08:42

Clearly lots of your fellow residents do recognise it because they keep voting for Burnham. Democracy can be so inconvenient sometimes, can’t it?

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I don’t know every citizen of GM, but in my locality he’s not popular and we’ve had little tangible benefit of him as Mayor of GM.

BIossomtoes · 20/05/2026 16:01

ViolaPlains · 20/05/2026 15:59

I don’t know every citizen of GM, but in my locality he’s not popular and we’ve had little tangible benefit of him as Mayor of GM.

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Yet he won the last mayoral election with 63.4% of the vote. And came first in every ward.

TallSturdyGirl · 20/05/2026 16:08

TheSassyPinkJoker · 16/05/2026 12:23

Won't forgive trying to make all of manchester a ULEZ

I wish he had, just done under better rules for businesses. My children's asthma levels are horrendous, as we live near the A6 and their school is there too.
ULEZ is on track to reduce hospital admissions by 2050 by 1 million. That would be nice to have.
Traffic pollution not only contributes to asthma, but also dementia levels.And other life limiting health conditions.

TallSturdyGirl · 20/05/2026 16:09

ViolaPlains · 20/05/2026 15:59

I don’t know every citizen of GM, but in my locality he’s not popular and we’ve had little tangible benefit of him as Mayor of GM.

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He is really liked GM. Every event i've been to that he's been at everyone crowded around him afterwards, like some celebrity. He is very personable, remembers loads of people of the thousands he must meet. And will admit when he's made mistakes which is more than many politicians.
I'm pretty certain his vote share went up over the years which is pretty unheard of!

Screamingabdabz · 20/05/2026 19:33

BIossomtoes · 20/05/2026 08:48

No, it shows he disagrees with you. Lots of very bright people disagree with you.

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Lots? Ok babe. 🙄

Everyone knows humans can’t change sex. Trans people know it more than anyone.

BunnyBunbunbun · 21/05/2026 14:44

BIossomtoes · 20/05/2026 08:48

No, it shows he disagrees with you. Lots of very bright people disagree with you.

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Burnham doesn't sound very bright when he claims that it's only a tiny minority who want single-sex toilets. It's actually the majority!

BunnyBunbunbun · 21/05/2026 14:51

TemperanceWest · 20/05/2026 09:26

I am not a fan of Burnham, but it is worth a) reading what he actually said and b) bearing in mind the audience he was addressing.

He was asked whether men who self-identify as women should be allowed to use women's toilets.

He replied: 'Clearly there is a group of people who do feel that toilets should be a safe space only for women and there should not be anyone biologically a male allowed in that space.I don't think that's a majority view. I think it's a minority view and quite a small minority view, actually. But it is a view so you can't completely ignore it. Possibly they might be women who have experienced male violence at some point in their life. I don't know, that's one way of looking at it.'

He added: 'The idea that people are falsely portraying their gender in a different way just because they want to abuse a women's space or encroach on women's safety… maybe it happens but you are talking a tiny, tiny, tiny number of people.

'So why are we allowing everyone to get into this really polarised and terribly hateful debate about these issues?

'I am going to make it really plain: I support trans rights and I want that to be known.'

Yeah, he's trying to go for that "nuanced" thing, where he pays some lip service to women's concerns - in an attempt to show he's a "reasoned" thinker - and then completely dismisses them. He also misrepresents what the majority of people's views really are on this issue.

If he believes it's perfectly fine for biological men to use women's loos, then he must think it's perfectly fine for himself and all other biological men to use women's loos. That's the logical conclusion of what he's saying.

BIossomtoes · 21/05/2026 16:00

BunnyBunbunbun · 21/05/2026 14:44

Burnham doesn't sound very bright when he claims that it's only a tiny minority who want single-sex toilets. It's actually the majority!

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When did he say that?

MulberryBrandy · 21/05/2026 16:30

BIossomtoes · 21/05/2026 16:00

When did he say that?

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I think it's a minority view and quite a small minority view, actually. But it is a view so you can't completely ignore it. Possibly they might be women who have experienced male violence at some point in their life. I don't know, that's one way of looking at it. (Andy Burnham, 2022 meeting with Manchester's 'youth combined authority')