Has Andy Burnham ended up as PM somewhat under false pretences?

[Imdunfer]

Please note that this is from a left wing Labour supporting paper.

It turns out that the marvellous redevelopment of Manchester that was the central plank of his credibility to become PM was triggered by the fall of Mubarak in Egypt in 2011 and what were effectively, or previously close to, bribes set up by the then Tory government to retain our massive defence contracts with the Middle East.

The owners of Man City, recently found guilty of breaking well over 100 financial football rules, are heavily involved. UK developers were excluded from access to large development contracts. Man City was sold a deal including the naming rights to the stadium, owned by the council, for £750k a year when professional rights brokers estimate the market value to be between £10m and £15m a year for the name alone.

The question is, did a local Mayor with no experience outside politics and only a tiny amount of experience of cabinet roles, (3 jobs in 3 years), get to be Prime Minister without a challenge on the strength of the development of the centre of his city that he actually only had a small part in creating?

https://www.theguardian.com/news/ng-interactive/2026/oct/25/thats-the-way-the-city-works-how-the-uae-changed-the-face-of-andy-burnhams-manchester

That is my thinking, too. At least pp is honest about supporting far-right parties, I suppose.

If I said what I really think I’d probably be banned.

If Mélenchon does win in any case his views on NATO and Russia are further left than here. He tends to be anti the former.

I don’t recognise your far right label, but the polls are looking positive.

Yes, apologies I can't find any substantiation for it, I should have checked before posting. The Telegraph is reporting the interpretations of Commonwealth leaders as what Burnham has said to them and of course they aren't the same.

Thanks for the correction BT.

Why would you be banned?

Use your imagination.

My view would be that nobody invests that heavily in a City without talking to the Mayor of it, and wanting something in return.

He was Mr Manchester.

Oh go on then!

You know you want to!

Le Pen, Weidel, Putin are getting there, as is Trump

Cause + effect.

But you support them. Call me old fashioned but being not a fascist is traditionally associated with not supporting fascist or fascist adjacent politicians.

If they take more hold we really are doomed. Le Pen will take France and restore order.

You know as well as I do re the hold your nose policy of many voters.

You also know that not every manifesto policy comes to pass.

Fascists have been running London streets for 3 years. Wearing face masks and chanting slogans which are designed to make Jews fear for their lives. During that time, fascists have been on every university campus and at any women's rallies - once again using hostile behaviour. I just laugh now when the right are called thee fascists.

Quite so.

And when posters throw around the f word and the r word - completely without justification, I merely shrug.

"One of the great fallacies of our time is that the Nazis rose to power because they imposed order on chaos. Precisely the opposite is true - they were successful because they imposed chaos on order. They tore up the commandments, they denied the super-ego, what you will. They said, "You may persecute the minority, you may kill, you may torture, you may couple and breed without love." They offered humanity all its great temptations. Nothing is true, everything is permitted."

I read this quote in The Magus decades ago and it has always stuck in my mind.

That's the best thing to do. I've seen terrible footage of the hard left in action, so I'm not about to shamed into be right wing by their supporters, or some of the left in general. Most times anyway they are exactly what they accuse you of.

One has to wonder what sort of 'order' Le Pen will 'restore' when they 'take' France.

I shall be watching Poland with interest. Frightening times caused by the left.

I think that’s missing the point, which is surely the question why le pen is topping the polls?

Marine and her party is considered far right. She inherited it from her ultra far right father.

No it isn't 'missing the point' at all.

Anyway I would appreciate it if you don't quote me anymore. With all due respect.

We know why. People are more concerned about labels than they are how a country is run. I suppose all those voters are racist fascists, instead of citizens who have had enough of soft politics ruining their countries.

As you wish, and by way of reciprocity, I ask you not to engage with me, any more.

I shall do likewise.