PM Andy Burham: what next for women's (and children's) rights?

[BridgetYourFortyDaysAreUp]

There didn't seem to be an appropriate existing thread, so -
Given that none of us voted for Andy (I know, I know, Labour won the last election, vote for party, he is new leader...blah blah) -

Any predictions for how bad it could get (puberty blocker trial, Conversion Bill, etc.)? Anything positive to look forward to?

New backing from MPs mathematically guarantees Burnham's coronation

27 more Labour MPs have nominated Andy Burnham to be leader of the Labour Party - making it mathematically impossible for any other leadership contender to challenge him.
^^
349 Labour MPs have now nominated Burnham, up from 322 on Thursday.
A candidate needs 81 nominations to stand - so there now aren't enough Labour MPs left to nominate anyone else.
^^
Burnham will still need the backing of three affiliated organisations and trade unions.

https://news.sky.com/story/politics-latest-burnham-starmer-labour-tories-badenoch-farage-12593360#12052134

As far as I can make out The Prince of the North is rabid TRA & unlikely to be supportive of “women’s rights”. He will be well supported by rest of Lab MPs.

bad move for women.

Things are in a state of flux. Things do look grim with the Puberty Blockers and Conversion therapy Bill. There is hope though.

There is evidence that Burnham is flexible on gender/sex matters. His recent flip on the Supreme Court is significant. I think he is like Starmer on this he doesn't care. His natural impulse is to ignore both women and the trans types. He just says whatever is fashionable.

So it is all about who can win him over.

I think he wants to middle road this - give pesky women single sex spaces, but potentially appease the TAs with puberty blockers/conversion therapy.

If the costs get TOO HIGH he might abandon appeasing the TAs.

So that is why stuff like Amnesty's self inflicted implosion and the stabbing of his effigy is very important. The TAs crazy may help us when real compassion for women and kids won't.

Plus there is the elephant in the room - the Muslim vote. Burnham needs to keep them onside. Is it easier to gesture over Gaza or remodel the conversion therapy bill?

Plus Burnham wants to keep distance from the Greens the fact they are full on gender crazy may push him away.

Notice he seems to want to keep Shabana Mahmood and Streeting in big roles. They are the biggest open believers in the existence of women/gays in Labour. If you want to go fully down the TA line Mahmood has to be side-lined.

@fromorbit Morning, did you mention the effigy thing on the Amnesty thread? I haven't seen that, would you have a news link please? thanks!

(ps never mind, just saw the effigy thread!)

I am most worried about the Conversion Bill. The puberty blocker trial would be disastrous for those children, but hopefully there will be an injunction. The Conversion Bill could affect everyone's free speech and would be completely unworkable in real life, I think.

But Andy's going to have bigger problems soon (such as dealing with Trump, dealing with Gaza and Israel, Putin and Ukraine, y'know, grownup stuff) - I just don't think he's got it in him.

I do worry that he'll be so overwhelmed with PM international stuff that he'll "ignore" everything else and the Bill will just slide into law.

Even if Andy is a TRA he is also a politician who can do maths and understands he has to win the red/blue wall in an election.

Good luck to him if he fails to identify this as a political point that is utterly toxic and has seen the downfall of numerous political figures already.

The Conversion bill which if passed into law will immediately face legal challenges from gay rights organisations who will win because of the existing law in other areas.

This is nothing new, however, some women in the Labour Party are already clearly viewing Burnham as temporary. He hasn't even started yet! What does that say about their confidence about Burnham taking them through to the next election?

Women from the Labour Party have spoken out about the party's failure to elect a woman as leader in its 120-year history, despite every other major UK political party having done so. The issue has become more pressing as Andy Burnham prepares to take over as leader.

Why has Labour never had a woman leader? | Politics News | Sky News

https://news.sky.com/story/politics-latest-burnham-starmer-labour-paris-tories-badenoch-farage-12593360

'All will be revealed very soon'
Lucy Powell says the tension in the room where Andy Burnham is due to be made Labour leader "feels a bit like the tension we all felt on Wednesdsay [sic] night watching England play Argentina".

Yeah, and we all know how well THAT turned out, Lucy! Very well for Argentina.

(Not the impression she was going for, I suspect)

Politics latest: 'I am ready to lead,' says Burnham in first speech as new Labour leader | Politics News | Sky News

[from] Burnham's five party promises

"First, I will work relentlessly to build a culture of one Labour team, because change starts with us," he begins.

Party infighting is an "indulgence" that falls heaviest on the people who need Labour most, Burnham says.

Looks like Andy will be getting the whip out. So, we'd better be on the lookout for where he's going, because when he says jump, they're all going to have to say "how high?" if they want to get anywhere in their political careers. And we all know that that's all they care about.

I've just watched his speech and he mentioned David Blunkett being a big influence on him. I have heard David Blunkett on Sky News being absolutely scathing on trans ideology so hopefully Andy Burnham will listen to him. I don't think he will double down on this like the Green Party has done, I will be very disappointed if he does.

He'll equivocate and offer nice sounding platitudes - leading to both continued confusion as well as offering encouragemnt to those who want to repeal sex based protections; or to include some men as women.

To equivocate means to deliberately use vague, ambiguous, or double-meaning language to conceal the truth or avoid committing to a clear position. It often involves talking out of both sides of your mouth to mislead an audience or dodge a direct answer

I know what equivocate means.

....

I'm sure, but personally I always find it useful to read a dictionary definition as well. I used to be an English teacher. I find words, language and definitions interesting. It's good to expand your vocabulary and explore alternative readings. There was no offence intended.

TBH it comes across a bit condescending. Equivocate isn't a very unusual word so I doubt many contributing here would be reaching for their dictionaries. Where do you draw the line?

To be condescending is to treat someone as if you are more important or more intelligent than them.

Need the laugh react for NowSober's post.

I can't be bothered with this needless offence taking. I've more worthwhile, less iritating things to occupy myself with.It is common for people to illustrate their posts,or provide links that help to expand or add info. Only those looking for aggro could possibly get upset. Enjoy your afternoon.

Incidentally, some of us are also familiar with the very interesting history of "equivocate", which was to do with Catholics during the reign of James 1 disguising the fact that they were Catholics by not giving straight answers to questions about religion.

Interesting fact! 👌

Maybe he'll just get on with things that actually matter rather than placating some guys who think wearing a dress makes them a woman.

He has said housing and social care are two massive issues that need resolving so hopefully he'll concentrate on things like that.

Burnham's hired Matthew McGregor, former Director of Hope Not Hate (and current CEO of 38 Degrees) as Director of Political Strategy, and Alison Phillips, a current board member of Hope Not Hate, as his Director of Transition.

HNH and 38D are both orgs that strongly support Genderism (and the Good Law Project). This doesn't make me feel very confident that a Burnham government will give gender critical women much support or a fair hearing.

Interesting. Do you happen to have links I can check, please? All I've found so far for HOPE not Hate is a lot of self-promotion and information on their anti-far right campaigns. Thanks.

https://x.com/SamCoatesSky/status/2077775219909906912?s=20 - McGregor

https://nitter.net/siennamarla/status/2077805024818737501?s=20 - Phillips

I think any changes or even action to ensure the Supreme Court judgment is followed will be well down the list of things Mr Burnham considers.

Thanks!

Wasn't Rosie Duffield in talks with Burnham to consider returning to the Labour fold. If she does I think that will be a strong signal of the direction of travel.