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.

Public control is not the same as renationalisation. We are still at the mercy of the private finance market and shareholders.. It smacks somewhat of PFI

Thames Water is in a uniquely awful mess though, I wouldn’t read too much into what’s happening there. I think until any person or party is actually in government they can’t know the full extent of what they are facing, so I’m always wary of big promises. Burnham needs to play a straight bat and not promise things he can’t deliver, because if does become PM they will bite him on the bum.

Tis the case for all - that any promises made not fulfilled come back to bite PMs.

But he's not MP yet never mid about PM just a hopeful contender. As far as I'm aware all Burnham's saying at the moment is that Labour must put energy and water under public control- utilyweek.co.uk 4 days ago plus Guardian 16 May.

It is the same for all, you’re right.
Despite all the mistakes and negative publicity though, Labour are actually delivering already on most of their Manifesto, I think they need now to make sure what they are doing is publicised better, rather than add more things into this parliament.

I'm with you and agree Casdon.

LemonJam

Tis the case for all - that any promises made not fulfilled come back to bite PMs.

But he's not MP yet never mid about PM just a hopeful contender. As far as I'm aware all Burnham's saying at the moment is that Labour must put energy and water under public control- utilyweek.co.uk 4 days ago plus Guardian 16 May.

From what I can see he assumes that, if he becomes an MP again the leadership slot is just a formality.

LemonJam

Maybee70.

There is no need for Burnham or anyone else to have a U turn on the personal position regarding the tensions between trans critical views versus human rights as the subsequent 2025 legal case and national guidance issued May 2026 has clarified the single sex toilet issue. The guidance set out that safe toilet space rights of all people- men, women and transgender people. The guidance is clear that women must have access to single sex toilets and gender neutral toilets must also be made available so all have access to safe toilet spaces.

Eh up LemonJam, don’t be coming in here with your usual voice of well informed calm contributions

Currently, only Outrage based on not a lot (and the daily mail) is dominating news n politics

NotSpaghetti, I enjoyed working my ex mining community, it was heart breaking and life enhancing simultaneously. Those grans and aunties, devastated by seeing their once proud boys sinking into addiction, all to often taking their children’s mum with them

One positive was Tony Blair’s SureStart centres. Ours had a community school, library, midwives, social workers drug team etc under one new roof. People felt noticed cared about and engaged with servuces, David Cameron’s ludicrous austerity policy killed so much

I think there's a few of us here who really felt good about SureStart. Our local one didn't have a library but did have the travelling one and a toy library. The next town had a bigger one.
It was so short sighted to cut it.

I was skeptical at first inspite of being involved in a pilot study but I was won over when we could see it in action. Some great parenting and empowering work- and young dads too... as well as many of the things you mentioned.

My home isn't in a mining area but I did work in one... and all my father's family were from the Rhondda so strong ties there.