Burnham: Is the Media Tempting Fate by Jumping the Gun?

I have just watched Burnham live on GB News.

I have just watched the speech. Lots of good ideas, I thought. Positive and forward looking.

Ilovecheese

I have just watched the speech. Lots of good ideas, I thought. Positive and forward looking.

That’s what I thought too.

I've heard lots of positive ideas how much comes about in reality is another matter, the media are not interested in the success stories only the drama, corruption and failures.
They will hound him relentlessly, let's hope that his own MPs dont join in as they did with Starmer

Oreo

Ilovecheese

I have just watched the speech. Lots of good ideas, I thought. Positive and forward looking.

That’s what I thought too.

I also thought that. Some really good ideas

I liked the Number 10 of the North idea. to expand the workings of number 10. The OECD has found that UK has one of the most, if not the most centralised government in number 10 compared to other countries. OECD has also found that wages across the country are higher as a result of governments operations centre is less centralised than UK number 10.

Devolution isn't new of course it's easy to give LAs more power, giving them enough money to change anything is another matter.

That’s not how I understood what Burnham said David49? I think it’s about devolving more powers currently held at Westminster to Regions in England. More akin to devolution to the other countries of the UK than giving more money and power to LAs?

"I am going to do things differently ..." They all say that! And you are not PM yet!!!

David49

Devolution isn't new of course it's easy to give LAs more power, giving them enough money to change anything is another matter.

AB is not proposing devolution in his ideas speech- power will continue to rest with the government.

A No 10 office is to facilitate power flow similar to other EU countries, shown to be effective and result in higher wages over the country as a result.

Luckygirl3

"I am going to do things differently ..." They all say that! And you are not PM yet!!!

AB was clear he's not been elected yet ( though no one else has stepped forward to compete with him so far.....) joked about speculation and presented his intention to do things differently if elected and gave some examples.

Posters were asking what he stood for and now AB's beginning setting out his stall. All PM contenders in selection process and then when PM say they will do things differently- and they do!. On the rank the 6 MPs over the past 10 years thread we can see how differently all 6 PMs did things.....

We can be sure AB will be different to Starmer, Sunak, Truss, Boris, May and Cameron.

And the electorate has made very clear they wanted someone different to Starmer.....

I like the ideas relating to utilities and housing. However, I’m puzzled how keeping to the same fiscal rules, will allow these ideas to go forward.

I was heartened by Andy Burnham’s speech. He used a great venue, which he clearly appreciates as a Manchester gem

What I did think was that his policies were relatively parochial. I would like to hear more about the nationwide issues, like social care, healthcare and welfare, defence, ( remember that was the beginning of the end for Starmer) and Europe.

Perhaps this will be developed as people get the chance to question him?

On a positive note - Burnham is more relatable than Starmer.

He did talk about housing, which is a nationwide issue. He was right to say that everyone should have a secure home in order to thrive. A huge council house building project will be a great help, as long as it is not subject to "right to buy".

He also said of housing, which I think is true, that secure housing has a knock on effect on health and welfare.

Luckygirl3

hoomee29

David49 and MayBee70

I agree with both of you. It seemed to me that KS was used as an acceptable face to get elected whereupon he would be pushed aside in favour of one of the far left candidates apparently cleared out of the party but standing in the wings.
AB has three years to either rescue the economy or completely trash it. I can't see how a socialist can rescue it. Look at Venezuela with all its natural resources. Ruined by left wing ineptitude and corruption. Who will then walk in to make hay is anybody's guess.

Don't panic - you will not get anything remotely left wing - more's the pity.

Agree. Sadly under Starmer most (many of them Labour Party active members for decades) have been hounded out of that party.

LemonJam

David49

Devolution isn't new of course it's easy to give LAs more power, giving them enough money to change anything is another matter.

AB is not proposing devolution in his ideas speech- power will continue to rest with the government.

A No 10 office is to facilitate power flow similar to other EU countries, shown to be effective and result in higher wages over the country as a result.

He is proposing devolving budgets and increased powers to regions in England Lemonjam, as well as increasing the devolved remit of the other nations. That is devolution, even if not all powers are devolved?

I thought his speech today was inspirational and uplifting ! It engaged me immediately and I also like the idea of a northern number 10! I was born in the south but have lived in the north for 50 years so I know about differences first hand! The next few weeks are are going to be very interesting .

I’m unclear how devolution will work in relation say to the government policy of building more council houses.

This I understand is being devolved, but say the mayor and LA does not agree with the policy of building more council houses?

How does that work?

Starmer expelled or alienated thousands of the Labour party membership. He preferred donations from organisations instead of membership fees.

If it’s like devolution in Wales, some funds come specifically badged if central government wants a common approach, so I imagine the funding will be badged with no other options of ways to spend it - like the government did in England with potholes, for example, a ring fenced allocation?

Whitewavemark2

I’m unclear how devolution will work in relation say to the government policy of building more council houses.

This I understand is being devolved, but say the mayor and LA does not agree with the policy of building more council houses?

How does that work?

I think the objections of L As to coucil house building usually arise if they are going to be built on so called green field sites. Andy Burnam said something about building them on greyfield (?) sites. Perhaps that will lead to less objections.

Ilovecheese

Starmer expelled or alienated thousands of the Labour party membership. He preferred donations from organisations instead of membership fees.

Yes, and many Labour supporters think that was the right thing to do, to avoid the activists tail wagging the dog of power Ilovecheese.