Andy Burnham has plan to return to Westminster ‘within weeks’. Allies sayGreater Manchester mayor said to have identified seats where MPs would step aside to allow leadership bid.

Is there anything in the article that is incorrect though? Given that so many people on here know his politics so well and are convinced that he is far better than the current democratically elected Prime Minister? I would like a forensic dissection of the article if at all possible.

I like the Spectator and it frequently doesn't represent my own views. It is quite important to look at unsupportive articles as well.

MayBee one thing that stood out to me was his support for Isreal as a democracy, later criticising and wanting a two state solution, I’d confess the same could be said of me. I was lucky to visit Israel years ago when it was relatively peaceful. Loved it. The actions of its current government changed my mind

I could understand the actions of The Israeli government following the 2024 attack on Israel by Gaza and the fact they have declared they want to kill all Jews, “never again “

Andy Burnham has shown his true colours. He will do anything and say anything to get back into Parliament, and become PM, he thinks.
What a god-awful mess.
Labour should be ashamed.

Reform are complaining that Labour has triggered an unnecessary by election. Even though that's exactly what they have done it has given Reform ammunition to fire at them.

MayBee70

Reform are complaining that Labour has triggered an unnecessary by election. Even though that's exactly what they have done it has given Reform ammunition to fire at them.

In this instance Reform are correct.

Labour, or to be precise Andy Burnham has engineered an unnecessary bi-election.

It is an overreaction 🤦‍♀️

I don’t agree with the way this has been done, but I don’t think it’s a big deal.

Id be keeping my counsel if I were Farage though. If he is suspended over the £5m gift and that triggers a by election, I guess Labour will be able to get their own back.

Of course, Reform are bound to be concerned about Burnham, he is way too popular with the public for their liking.

I understand the irritation, the frustration but I’m finding it impossible to ignore the strength of anti Starmer feeling in the country. I don’t understand the level of vitriol. I’m relieved generally his international work is well regarded.
We’ve had several opportunities for Starmer to reboot but it isn’t happening,
In football terms, it’s clear he’s lost the dressing room. It’s a shocking mess, a waste of good colleagues and a solid majority. Something has to change and if Andy B manages to beat Reform in the by election, there will be a leadership challenge at some point which Burnham is likely to win, hope?

I agree, Iam. I don't know why so many people dislike Starmer, but from the day after the GE there have been snipes, jibes and attempts at character assassination. Whether he deserved it or not (and on balance I think not) he is not carrying people with him, even in his own party.

Burnham has a lot going for him, IMO, and if he can pull this off and become PM we might have a less fraught three years before the next GE. If it doesn't come off, I don't know what will happen, but I suppose three years is a long time in politics.

Iam64

I understand the irritation, the frustration but I’m finding it impossible to ignore the strength of anti Starmer feeling in the country. I don’t understand the level of vitriol. I’m relieved generally his international work is well regarded.
We’ve had several opportunities for Starmer to reboot but it isn’t happening,
In football terms, it’s clear he’s lost the dressing room. It’s a shocking mess, a waste of good colleagues and a solid majority. Something has to change and if Andy B manages to beat Reform in the by election, there will be a leadership challenge at some point which Burnham is likely to win, hope?

I think that Starmer (or more probably Reeves) managed to alienate some of their core voters in their first few months.

Add to that disaffected Labour voters who feel their worries are being ignored and you have a perfect storm which Reform will take advantage of.

I still think he should stay and perhaps change some of his Cabinet.

It is a long time. Which is why I think the PM should continue as PM as the party are working their way through their manifesto promises even with everything that’s happening worldwide. Many governments have bad council election results without the PM having to stand down.

MayBee we share many views but the Starmer problem isn’t confined to bad council election results. I didn’t canvass but friends who did consistently reported visceral dislike of Keir, I don’t understand it , I suspect he’s being blamed in part for the mess he inherited but also for the chaos he’s presided over.

Whatever the reason, there’s no avoiding that Keir is unimaginably unpopular. His comms have been dreadful. The good work his govt has done has been invisible. Change is needed and I’m losing confidence in Keir’s ability to:deliver

I really don't understand why he is so disliked.
He and his Cabinet made some unpopular decisions but Starmer himself?

Starmer is disliked because our right wing leaning press have been amplifying ever minor issue since day one. Their MO is to repeat it over and over again, louder and louder, till people believe it. Very early on they presented an AI doctored interview with Starmer, showing him blanking on answering a question which was later proven to have never occurred. His PR have been extremely poor in countering all this.

All those toolmaker jokes when he was just trying to explain to people how his roots influenced his political beliefs have always irritated me. As if, right from the start the media tried to undermine his authority and make him look a fool. Maybe it’s why I’m so defensive of him.

Well, yes, I agree about the press, and the poor reporting of successes, but he just doesn't have the personality to communicate enthusiasm and appeal in a populist way.

I don't want a charisma laden empty figure, but people simply don't like him I respect him but it's not enough. I also think there are times he has let himself be badly advised?

I also don't like plunging into yet another well of uncertainty but dont think we have the choice.

I had to smile tho - remember the female plumber who won Gorton for the Greens, who had considerable council experience - well have chosen a male plumber 🤣 (clearly the recipe for a victory)

..without any political experience at all.

Sorry, Reform have chosen said plumber.

To be fair if 'political experience ' involves the stupidity of appointing Mandelsson then I am not sure it is a necessary quality.

Some of the Labour majority was due to tactical voting, to get the Tories out.

Since the election Labour has achieved success, but this has not hit the headlines.
Why not?
Constant sniping by MSM and
failure of Labour comms to counteract this propaganda onslaught.

Iam64

MayBee we share many views but the Starmer problem isn’t confined to bad council election results. I didn’t canvass but friends who did consistently reported visceral dislike of Keir, I don’t understand it , I suspect he’s being blamed in part for the mess he inherited but also for the chaos he’s presided over.

Whatever the reason, there’s no avoiding that Keir is unimaginably unpopular. His comms have been dreadful. The good work his govt has done has been invisible. Change is needed and I’m losing confidence in Keir’s ability to:deliver

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

Andy Burnham would be the finish of Labour. Labour serves approximately two thirds less in power than Conservatives, there is good reason for that. He is very much to the left and those cronies of his who are of the same mind set will finish this country off. I am not a Starmer fan but he is the only one, boring as he is, that cares about uk and is not a hot head. The others its like putting the fox in with the chickens. . Imagine any if that lot talking to world leaders..

I see the worms are busy escaping the woodwork - re the Reform candidate.

Kenyon is busy scrubbing his Facebook and anything else that holds dodgy content.

Wyllow3

Well, yes, I agree about the press, and the poor reporting of successes, but he just doesn't have the personality to communicate enthusiasm and appeal in a populist way.

I don't want a charisma laden empty figure, but people simply don't like him I respect him but it's not enough. I also think there are times he has let himself be badly advised?

I also don't like plunging into yet another well of uncertainty but dont think we have the choice.

I had to smile tho - remember the female plumber who won Gorton for the Greens, who had considerable council experience - well have chosen a male plumber 🤣 (clearly the recipe for a victory)

..without any political experience at all.

Oh, this is interesting. Apparently the day before his selection was announced the Reform candidate was busy tidying up his Facebook page

searchlightmagazine.com/2026/05/reforms-makerfield-candidate-scrubs-fascist-leader-from-his-facebook-friends/