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

What are you talking about? Those countries will never leave the EU. It simply won't happen. There's no point in worrying about it.

Unless of course you have property in any of the countries that you mention because I'd be rather unhappy if I was a property owner, if any of your predictions came true.

I haven't mentioned anyone leaving the EU.

So what's the point of your post then?

Voters eventually will get the political class to listen, as it will end their jobs. In a few countries there’s a split away from the centre.

It’s customary for fresh PM’s with a honeymoon premium, to try to implement difficult policy early on.

Not so Burnham.

What it says 🤷🏻‍♀️

His back benchers are playing up again and the tail's still wagging the dog.

Yes, but given how volatile our politics has been for the past few years - and in particular after the absolute car crash of Liz Truss’s attempt to “do big things” after only a few days in office - I actually find Burnham and Healey’s more steady, measured approach an enormous relief.

His strategy is working then.

Full sail ahead for an election in May.

I definitely think going slow and steady and shoring up trust and support before he implements any big changes is a deliberate strategy from the Prime Minister, but I also very much hope he doesn’t go for an early election. I really do want a break from divisive electioneering.

Burnham has ruled that out. He doesn’t have to call one before 2029, and he has enough of a majority to hold on until then.

Edited for grammar

Is this the incident you mean, LHF? Bit more detail here:

https://www.newsweek.com/video-shows-woman-physically-attacked-at-university-of-michigan-event-12648159

The woman attacked was "Pro-Trump conservative influencer" Liz Benichou. Has anyone heard of her?

He's ruled out out?

They all rule it out a few months before it happens because otherwise the country comes to a standstill while everyone holds their breath for the election result.

All the media and political analysis that I'm reading says there will be an election.

The low key, don't upset the applecart budget screams "election coming!".

He needs one, he is hamstrung by the last manifesto unless he calls one. And he needs to secure a full 5 years before the election after that to ensure that his plans have time to come to fruition before the electorate get to vote again.

What difficult policy did you have in mind?

It's cutting welfare. Not actually putting anything solid in place to deal with people's long term issues to support them into work and keep them there, just cuts. That's all they ever have.

Good grief. It was December and now it's May next year?

Certainly wouldn't put a bet on re your predictions.

I haven't, but it's pretty clear that this isn't a simple antisemitic attack. There's no excuse for violence, but the trigger seems to have been blatant anti-Islam rhetoric from the pro-Trump people there. Which in no way justifies an attack, but it also does not warrant describing it as antisemitic in nature.

Erase and Rewind is one of my favourite songs. From The Cardigans.

Cardigans are very handy in winter.

So back to Europe and the EU. Are we all agreed that no Country is going to leave the EU and that The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is most welcome to restart negotiations?

It doesn't matter who the woman supports. She was violently attacked for making a comment about not being able to walk around dressed in a t shirt and leggings in Iran. I hope we are not seeing victim blaming here because I remember the reaction at the Reform conference. Was it an antisemitic attack? Possibly, maybe not but it was a 'liberal' student who lashed out and that's being seen more frequently. Sorry @Imdunfer I won't mention this again, as it will derail your thread.

You forgot the slow motion car crash that was Starmer and Reeves’s dynamic two-year partnership….

Funny how Burnham acts as if that period just didn't exist as well.

What did they crash exactly?

She remained very loyal to Starmer, didn't she? Sacrificing her career for two teir.

I agree - he will roll the dice. He didn’t become PM via popular vote and lacks a mandate for what he would like to do (what his back bench constituents demand he does).

Posters may disagree with you on here, but they will not put any meaningful money behind it.

Hands up anyone on this thread who could resign from a £4000 pcm sideline on, checks notes, principles?

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/nov/02/nigel-farage-telegraph-column-ends