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.

David49

LemonJam

I would agree- Burnham is more likely to be a steadying force.

Indeed, many are assuming Burnham will be a firebrand Socialist, on the other hand many of his ideas are sensible and IF MPs support him it's going to be a big step forward.

At the end of the day we just don't know, everything depends on what influence - if any, he has on the government and the response of the markets to any changes in policy.

Maybe we will see at the next budget.

He seemed to have had a very close look at other democratic mixed economies when he first became Mayor. I do wonder if he discovered anything interesting?

Mollygo

I’ve reported my own post in case it is seen as Goady.

Should I also report it to say I don't think that was your intention? It didn't occur to me that it was.

I agree David49 - the only certainty in UK politics right now is uncertainty but the successive Makerfield polls consistently show Burnham ahead.

I doubt very much if Burnham is voted in as MP and becomes active at Westminster he will be a " a firebrand socialist". As politicians go in current times, Burnham is unusually popular and he is regularly the only UK politician of any political stripe with net- positive favourability rating.

He has also enjoyed 10 years of strong popularity ratings across the Greater Manchester patch. In Wigan, where Makerfield sits, Burnham won 66.1% of the vote in the last Mayoral election in 2024. He hasn't got everything right, no politician ever does but he has got things right enough for enough of the time to facilitate such net-positive ratings- again very unusual in current UK politics.

His winning card is his building of "Brand Manchester". Having been out of Westminster for 9 years he is also unattached to any preconceived agendas- this blank canvas could be a risk but also Burnham could convert this into a real asset, particularly as he has many allies that may support any ideas he brings to the table to turn around the Government's fortunes. Plus he has not been part of the decision making process in any of the current government's mis steps- whcih can only stand in his favour.

Well, I'm not assuming that Burnham will be a firebrand Socialist. I just think that he is more in tune with soft left Labour and many voters and doesn't subscribe to the overtly right wing thinking of some of the current Labour ministers.

LemonJam

I would agree- Burnham is more likely to be a steadying force.

Indeed, many are assuming Burnham will be a firebrand Socialist, on the other hand many of his ideas are sensible and IF MPs support him it's going to be a big step forward.

At the end of the day we just don't know, everything depends on what influence - if any, he has on the government and the response of the markets to any changes in policy.

Maybe we will see at the next budget.

I’ve reported my own post in case it is seen as Goady.

DaisyAnnReturns
Does the Labour Party "think it’s a good way to go" Mollygo? I don't follow the LP itself that closely but I got the impression it was just groups within the Labour Party.

Oh absolutely DaisyAnnReturns I’m truly sorry for posting my misapprehension.

Though I do wish you had noted my LP seem to think, if you’re going to quote me.

Doodledog

DaisyAnneReturns

Iam64

DAR they get it because of conditions of insurance
The claimants I’m referring to are in families where generations haven’t worked or paid insurance.
This isn’t gossip, it’s factual.
We need a welfare state to support any of us who may find ourselves in need. I can’t tell you how often I was told “I’ve a good income, I’ll never work again it’s a mugs game”
We need tax and benefit fraud investigated and minimised. We need to face reality

That's still gossip Iam, their gossip. I would guess - I obviously don't know - that it's a tale they tell after being diminished rather to often by those around them who accuse them of being the problem, rather than having a problem. I imagine the scoriating looks they receive having said it are their reward. They have made you see them.

How does accusing someone of not having the facts when she was told something from the horse's mouth sit with 'I would guess', 'I imagine' and 'I obviously don't know'?

I haven't "accused" you or anyone else of anything Doodledog However, saying "I’ve a good income, I’ll never work again it’s a mugs game" is not an admission of fraud.

Mollygo

Iam64

If Andy wins and I hope he does, I’m sure he won’t create mayhem in the Labour Party. I’m still a member and it looks pretty chaotic to me now

When you think of the criticisms about the infighting and changes of Prime Minister in the last party I wonder why the LP seem to think it’s a good way to go.

Does the Labour Party "think it’s a good way to go" Mollygo? I don't follow the LP itself that closely but I got the impression it was just groups within the Labour Party.

I would agree- Burnham is more likely to be a steadying force.

Iam64

If Andy wins and I hope he does, I’m sure he won’t create mayhem in the Labour Party. I’m still a member and it looks pretty chaotic to me now

Looking at the stuff that is coming out in the release of documents concerned with Mandelson's appointment as ambassador to the US I can't see that any more mayhem is possible.

At least Burnham's political philosophy appears to be more in tune with a large section of the PLP.

People do brag about gaming the system, even when they are not. I think they believe it makes them look clever or "hard".
When I worked for the Poll Tax, people would phone to report their neighbours who had been telling them that they were not paying the tax. When we investigated they were more often than not paying by direct debit. Not one accusation turned out to be the truth, the neighbours were just "talking big".

I am not sure the LP do think it's a good way to go. They are being manipulated by the media and its influence on the public. I am sure Starmer would have preferred to just get on with the job in hand.

DaisyAnneReturns

Iam64

DAR they get it because of conditions of insurance
The claimants I’m referring to are in families where generations haven’t worked or paid insurance.
This isn’t gossip, it’s factual.
We need a welfare state to support any of us who may find ourselves in need. I can’t tell you how often I was told “I’ve a good income, I’ll never work again it’s a mugs game”
We need tax and benefit fraud investigated and minimised. We need to face reality

That's still gossip Iam, their gossip. I would guess - I obviously don't know - that it's a tale they tell after being diminished rather to often by those around them who accuse them of being the problem, rather than having a problem. I imagine the scoriating looks they receive having said it are their reward. They have made you see them.

How does accusing someone of not having the facts when she was told something from the horse's mouth sit with 'I would guess', 'I imagine' and 'I obviously don't know'?

Iam64

If Andy wins and I hope he does, I’m sure he won’t create mayhem in the Labour Party. I’m still a member and it looks pretty chaotic to me now

When you think of the criticisms about the infighting and changes of Prime Minister in the last party I wonder why the LP seem to think it’s a good way to go.

If Andy wins and I hope he does, I’m sure he won’t create mayhem in the Labour Party. I’m still a member and it looks pretty chaotic to me now

Iam64

DAR they get it because of conditions of insurance
The claimants I’m referring to are in families where generations haven’t worked or paid insurance.
This isn’t gossip, it’s factual.
We need a welfare state to support any of us who may find ourselves in need. I can’t tell you how often I was told “I’ve a good income, I’ll never work again it’s a mugs game”
We need tax and benefit fraud investigated and minimised. We need to face reality

That's still gossip Iam, their gossip. I would guess - I obviously don't know - that it's a tale they tell after being diminished rather to often by those around them who accuse them of being the problem, rather than having a problem. I imagine the scoriating looks they receive having said it are their reward. They have made you see them.

Sarnia

Andy Burnham may have an easier by-election than he thinks. I would have expected Farage to have put forward the very best candidate he could find to try to secure Makerfield for Reform. However, when Chris Mason, the BBC's Political Editor, questioned Kenyon earlier, he mentioned views held and opinions given by him on the Ukraine, Brexit and women which he dismisses as banter and a Northerner saying what they think, He has changed his views now, apparently, I daresay he has but he came across as a bit cocky. He may win by a landslide but I wonder if Reform may rue the day they chose Kenyon.

It won't bother them. They will relish Burnham causing complete mayhem in the Labour party.

Andy Burnham may have an easier by-election than he thinks. I would have expected Farage to have put forward the very best candidate he could find to try to secure Makerfield for Reform. However, when Chris Mason, the BBC's Political Editor, questioned Kenyon earlier, he mentioned views held and opinions given by him on the Ukraine, Brexit and women which he dismisses as banter and a Northerner saying what they think, He has changed his views now, apparently, I daresay he has but he came across as a bit cocky. He may win by a landslide but I wonder if Reform may rue the day they chose Kenyon.

Doodledog

There may be no objective reason to resent it, but people feel what they feel. If you get up every morning to work gutting fish or digging roads for minimum wage and see others with the same standard of living who could work but don’t, and they also get discounted entry to attractions, and free this and that, I think it’s understandable to resent that.

Yes, this is exploited by some politicians and the media - I’m fully aware of that - but the resentment is not unreasonable IMO.

Not unreasonable and very understandable.

Thanks LemonJam. I’m not unaware of the complexity and I am aware I saw more fraud than the average bearb

Iam64

True LemonJam but many professionals are bound by confidentiality

I agree.

True LemonJam but many professionals are bound by confidentiality

Benefit fraud is easily reportable via the telephone helpline if anyone knows of someone that is claiming benefits fraudulently and anyone is resentful.

Tax fraud and aggressive tax avoidance, particularly from those already wealthy, including politicians, also causes great resentment. We rely on whistleblowers, newspaper reporters, political rivals etc to raise their concerns and then rely on HMRC to investigate.

DAR - please be reassured that I’m aware what gossip is. I’m also aware what benefit and tax fraud look like.