When & how will Burnham’s honeymoon come to an end?

[Theblueyonder]

Burnham’s leadership has been relatively free of drama, so far, and certainly when compared to his hapless predecessor.

What do we think will represent Burnham’s first real test? The budget, or something else?

Its why hes only finally succeeded in being leader because there wasn't anyone else in the PLP that was good enough. Desperation. He's stood before and failed because people who knew him didn't think he was up to it. He seized the opportunity that came due to Starmers failure. But he's still the same person that repeatedly failed before.

I think it is Labour. It was Starmer now it’s Burnham.

Excuse me, I’m still here - why not ask me?

LOL, struggling to point out Burhham’s fickleness and loose tongue?

I think not.

If you respond to posts, others will know who you are addressing.

He’s all over the place.

No, trying to have a sensible debate. However this thread is clearly not currently the place for it.

You are probably right, ES.

So, it’s Burnham or an early GE….

I think that’s called bait and switch.

You might want to google what that actually means.

Nah, I know precisely what it means, and it’s applicable.

Yes - I completely agree that what is really good about Kemi Badenoch and Andy Burnham is that they engage with the politics of ideas, and are articulate in expressing their different political philosophies. I hope we continue to get more of that.

In defence of Burnham he is in the same financial straight jacket as Starmer faced. He can't cut welfare spending because his backbenchers will revolt. He can't increase taxes because it will simply slow the economy as Rachel Reeves found out with her employer NI rise. And he can't increase debt because bond yields are already at a historical high on existing borrowing (let alone further borrowing).

As a result he is left with tinkering around the edges (£2 bus fares for cities), Google Maps now showing fuel prices. Giving motivational speeches laden with emotion that many people like but doesn't actually deliver anything. Political promises of changes that won't happen until after 2030 and how a turn around will take ten years etc.

So although all this lands well with voters in the short term, it won't take long for voters to get impatient on a lack of actual results.

Basically Burnham is the same as Starmer but with better TikTok videos.

Burnham, of course, is merely a butterfly in the wind.

Half of Europe could potentially move to the right (good luck Andy).

Nathalie Tocci, professor at the European campus of Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Bologna, says that if the nationalist right held power in Spain, France, Poland and Italy all at once, “I don’t think it’s hyperbolic to say it’s the end of the European Union as we’ve known it.”

I disagree. I think he has thought deeply about how he would govern the UK for over a decade. His book lays out some interesting plans and are consistent with how he was a mayor and how he so far has been PM.
Of course he will make mistakes. Who doesn't? But if we want our country to improve we need some stability and he can offer that.

All true although even Tik tok videos have a short shelf life for him.

How so?

Europe’s upcoming elections

OCTOBER 25, NOVEMBER 1 2026 Bulgaria — presidential elections NOVEMBER 29 2026 Spain — parliamentary election
MARCH 7 2027 Estonia — parliamentary election
APRIL, MAY AND SEPTEMBER 2027 Germany — state elections
APRIL 18 2027 Finland — parliamentary election
APRIL 18, MAY 2 2027 France — presidential elections
MAY 30 2027 Germany — state election in Bremen
SUMMER 2027 France — parliamentary elections
BY JULY 25 2027 Greece — parliamentary elections
SEPTEMBER 26 2027 Germany — state election in Niedersachsen
AUTUMN 2027 Poland — parliamentary election
AUTUMN 2027 Slovakia — parliamentary election
BY DECEMBER 2027 Italy — parliamentary election

Makerfield statement re Brexit, four months later a major flip on that.

The podcast. Be clear was there interference and how much impact did it have? A clear answer in the HoC not a podcast.

Yes this post and your previous one is a major factor.

Thanks, I think so ES - tectonic plates are shifting.

The entire stadium can see Burnham is gonna be caught offside.

You and pps seem to be relishing the thought of the far right gaining power.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cmglw0r21zexo IMF forecast

I do think there are positive signs but the media are consistently focusing on popular sound bites that create a negative mind set.

You may not like AB but we need cross party working to tackle some of the big issues, as he is proposing. That’s what good politics looks like, not merely throwing insults around.
The Dutch system is an interesting political model.

All the measures he announced he nicked from Starmer.

If Burnham wants stability, why didn’t he let Starmer go on?