Andy B’s speech

[TheRealSmurfette]

What did you like / not like?

Taking the speech as a whole, I loved it. I think it’s among the best and most passionate political speeches I’ve ever heard. I never forget Neil Kinnocks speeches and Burnham’s made me feel similar.

In terms of detail, I’m not sure about his and Lucy Powell education path changes as I fear some young people will lose opportunity at 14 when perhaps the issue could be quality of existing education. I’m also not convinced about voting reform - I’m in Scotland and our system throws some odd results.

I believe his personal commitment to the social care system and I really really want whatever comes in to be a success.

I was not a Burnham fan and I hated the method of him getting to PM. I was sceptical and am not usually someone swayed by charm. I could not however help myself here though because I liked the substance and vision. I’m also a bit lapsed Labour because of things like their treatment of Rosie Duffield and certain women’s rights issues but I hope I can find my political home again soon.

As for the triple lock - as long as his reforms increase the base pension to something that is livable on as the starting point, it will have done its job. Not sure how it will work in Scotland where there’s already free social care as far as I know.

Finally, yes, it made me cry.

What did you think?

I thought it was really good. It was great to see emotion too, made him much more personable. I thought he spoke really well and from the heart. One of the best speeches I’ve seen in recent years actually.

I agree it made me cry too. I've seen criticism of the speech because it doesn't sufficiently address what exactly should be done.

but in my view, you cannot get to a correct prescription if you haven't first got the right diagnosis.

and I think A B speech pointed out much of what is wrong (the diagnosis) and outlined how we might put this right (the prescription).

it was the speech I longed for after the Labour Party was elected. It's taken over two years, but I got the speech, full of passion and commitment, I wanted.

The speech covered everything that we as a family have been saying for years, we finally felt understood.

It felt like a speech by a Labour prime minister. Which is refreshing. He is comfortable with himself and with the Party. On the triple lock , all the parties are in agreement it had to change. Farage wants to scrap the pension anyway. On PR , I hope they don't go for the dogs dinner AV with top ups etc. I'm biased being in Ireland but I can't see past the Single Transferable Vote. It is transparent, no top ups or opaque lists. Keeps the constituency link.

Andy Burnham will be at the mercy of events thanks to the president of the US alas. But he has named a lot of the problems . Speaking it out loud takes a lot of the fear away.

Most hopeful I have felt about politics and the future for ages.
What a difference to KS who was a decent enough man but not a natural leader.

I will always be a Green voter but Labour have really impressed me since Andy took office. With Kier, I thought that the Liberal order was on the verge of collapse and that the right would get into power and undo everything that we have worked so hard to achieve, but I think Andy Burnham will do enough to buy us another 20-30 years and long enough to change the demography of the country and secure a left wing/socialist government forever.

I'm certainly feeling a lot more optimistic about the future now.

I thought it was fantastic 🌹

Oh, I’m glad there’s a thread on this - I was looking for one earlier and couldn’t see one! I thought it was extraordinary. I’ve been really quite disillusioned about politics over the last few years, and this speech genuinely reminded me that politics can be a force for good. I know the proof will be in the pudding, but I found it so refreshing to finally hear some big ideas, a kind of moral clarity and a politician actually telling us what they’re for, instead of just sniping about what they’re against.

I agree that he does indeed seem very genuine about social care.
He has great communication skills - unlike Keir.
I also think that the proof of the pudding…. etc.

REALLY want him to take those bastard water companies contracts away.
I really want to un brexit.
Still sceptical as to whether he’s really going to actually do some of these things.
Here’s hoping!

Oh and let’s hope he takes back some red wall votes from Reform 🤞🤞🤞

Andy is growing on me. Not enough that I’d consider voting Labour at a GE, but I like him.

He played a blinder. It’s wonderful to see a return to conviction politics and a politician prepared to risk his political capital on the issues he believes in. And no point scoring.

Just hope he can pull all of this off now. As ever, the devil is in the detail.

Is this an attempt at satire/ sarcasm?!

Because one of the things that a lot of people I’ve spoken to really liked about Andy Burnham’s speech, was that he didn’t say anything snide or sniping about his opponents. He didn’t need to - because he had an actual vision to articulate instead.

I do think Theresa May was right when she warned it was politically dangerous for the Tories to be seen as the nasty party, and - for the sake of our political discourse - I hope Kemi Badenoch (who I do think is an intelligent and capable politician) remembers it.

What savings did he announce would be made in this Parliament?

It would be pretty unusual for a leader from any political party to announce detailed, specific budget savings during a party conference speech, though, wouldn’t it? Generally, I feel like these speeches are all about setting a big philosophical direction, rather than laying out the details. In fact, I think one of the reasons so many people (myself included) were impressed by Andy Burnham’s speech was because it seemed to have much more genuine substance than I’ve got used to hearing. So many of these speeches are just leaders sniping about their opponents, and it was quite striking that he didn’t do that at all. TBF I hope Kemi Badenoch matches in kind with her own conference speech, so we can have some proper political debate about big ideas.

Yes no need to suggest where money will come from to do all the things he says he will. Like devolution which will cost a fortune. And the bottom line is that everything needs paying for. So the speech is just empty vibes.

Of course all that detail is going to have to come, and I’m sure it will, starting with the budget. But that just isn’t what party conference speeches are traditionally for. From my perspective, it was much, much less of an empty vibes speech than I was expecting. I thought it was much more detailed, and much more substantive than any conference speech I can remember - from any political party at all - for many years.

That’s what budgets are for.

Well its all hot air until he can say how he will pay for everything. Even a decent suggestion. He doesn't need specific figures. But he didnt. Obviously people will be taken in by vibes. And hes definitely better than KS. But hes taking Labour to the left and needs to show this won't ruin the country. Which he hasn't.

Hes also talking about more state control not less. Devolution will mean greater state control and interference.

For the first time in a long time, it gave me hope. I liked Kier Starmer and was dubious about Andy Burnham’s appointment, but as pp said, he has grown on me. It’s nice to see a real human with beliefs and not clever and sniping rhetoric all the time. I really hope that is a turning point.

He’s talking about taking control out of the hands of billionaires. The state represents us, the people. It’s very appealing to those of us who have “enjoyed” the dubious benefits of a small state for the last 40 years.

Maybe not 40 years, but the idea we've had a small state since 1997 is laughable. The Tories did nothing to improve the mess New Labour made of government infrastructure.

I don't know about taking control out of the hands of billionaires. We need to take back control from government bureaucracy and an inability to get anything done without endless reviews and consultations. I doubt Burnham's plans will improve that.

No hes talking about devolution from central government and putting more power in the hands of the regions. More state control. Don't know what "billionaires" have to do with that. Not that there are many left in the UK anyway. They won't be able to be used by the left as a knee'jerk response to everything..what will you do!!???