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

Hopefully the next three years will go some way to ameliorating regret- time will tell.

Realistically nothing can be achieved/changed quickly by any government/PM so everyone, whether supportive of AB/Next PM or out to moan/undermine/disparage at every step- the next GE is 3 years away.

Oh LemonJam, you do sound down.

A couple of things I am reading that I feel more hopeful about, if they come to fruition.
The first is Burnham’s ideas relating to social care. He originally proposed (during Blair’s government I think) that care should be, like health, free at the point of use, and paid for by a tax on the estate of the person on death. The Tories fought it like mad calling it the “death tax” and won the argument.

I do wonder if the country is now ready to introduce such a tax. I think it has merit and certainly worth giving it thought. I think that the NHS would benefit from this enormously and of course would users of the NHS - which is most of us.

The other thing is that it seems that Burnham favours the idea of a wealth tax. Now that is something I definitely think a good idea.

Whitewavemark2

A couple of things I am reading that I feel more hopeful about, if they come to fruition.
The first is Burnham’s ideas relating to social care. He originally proposed (during Blair’s government I think) that care should be, like health, free at the point of use, and paid for by a tax on the estate of the person on death. The Tories fought it like mad calling it the “death tax” and won the argument.

I do wonder if the country is now ready to introduce such a tax. I think it has merit and certainly worth giving it thought. I think that the NHS would benefit from this enormously and of course would users of the NHS - which is most of us.

The other thing is that it seems that Burnham favours the idea of a wealth tax. Now that is something I definitely think a good idea.

I think I mentioned that upthread. He talked of a 10% tax on death as a way to pay for social care. There would be no nil rate, whereas it is currently around a million pounds before people pay IHT. This would apply to everyone, so in theory the money would even out, and be fairly spread, as those with less would pay less, but IHT from those with more wouldn't have to cover everyone. I don't know whether the tax would be payable on everyone's death, or if a surviving spouse would be able to keep joint assets until their own death, but I expect that would be the case.

At face value I think that is a fair way to do it, so long as the money is ring-fenced for social care and not put in a general taxation 'pot' and spent on other things.

Galaxy I'm sure that most people are able to see that the 'hope' messaging is just that, but it is a far better message than the ones being pushed from the other side (ie hatred and division), and better than the very downbeat messaging we got from Starmer and Reeves after the election (Black Hole etc).

So was it wrong of Starmer and Reeves to point out to the electorate that Labour had inherited a country in a bad way after 14 years of austerity added to which were wars and then a deranged vengeful POTUS; to say that it couldn’t be turned around quickly and that they couldn’t promise sunlit uplands in the first term? Has Burnham ever mentioned anything about world affairs or how he is going to deal with other world leaders. Or is he too busy referencing cult moves and Smiths songs ( but without ever mentioning Morrissey’s current political views because he sits on the fence when it comes to that)?

LemonJam

Hopefully the next three years will go some way to ameliorating regret- time will tell.

Realistically nothing can be achieved/changed quickly by any government/PM so everyone, whether supportive of AB/Next PM or out to moan/undermine/disparage at every step- the next GE is 3 years away.

I'm hopeful re AB and what I read yesterday I thought was fairly positive- but the negativity about him could bring anyone down and he hasn't even been elected yet 🤷‍♀️

DaisyAnneReturns

Oh LemonJam, you do sound down.

My reply 13.47 was meant to be in response to you DAR 💐

You’re right LemonJam, AB isn’t yet the PM - perhaps he should stop behaving like he is.

I just hope Labour MPs haven’t made a monumental mistake … one which will potentially affect the country for decades.

LizzieDrip

You’re right LemonJam, AB isn’t yet the PM - perhaps he should stop behaving like he is.

I just hope Labour MPs haven’t made a monumental mistake … one which will potentially affect the country for decades.

I have not interpreted AB's behaviour as though he is behaving as though he is PM LizzieDrip- so will agree to differ with you on that.

Keith Starmer is still PM till the end of his resignation notice period.

LizzieDrip

You’re right LemonJam, AB isn’t yet the PM - perhaps he should stop behaving like he is.

I just hope Labour MPs haven’t made a monumental mistake … one which will potentially affect the country for decades.

well the country is still dealing with the negative impact of leaving the EU as a result of Cameron's decision to have a referendum and that will affect us for decades to come and not in a good way. It was a monumental mistake that Conservatives chose him as their PM but it was their choice.

Now the LP get their turn to chose their next PM.

Yes the PLP get to chose - not the grass roots Labour membership (all 250,000 of us)!

LizzieDrip

Yes the PLP get to chose - not the grass roots Labour membership (all 250,000 of us)!

As someone pointed out on Facebook they could have chosen someone from the extreme left of the party and installed them as PM. The electorate voted for someone slightly left of centre ( if that even) and didn’t vote for any of Burnhams policies. And from what I can see he is already acting as if he’s PM but with no scrutiny eg refusing to answer questions from the press. No mention of how he’s going to deal with foreign leaders. Just ‘hey I remember when I used to DJ here stuff’. If he stopped doing that I might be more accepting of him but it just reminds me of Farages I’m a man of the people way of selling himself. And all the while Starmer is still just getting on with the job in his quiet boring un charismatic way.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Burnham wants ‘more devolution’. Oh heck.
Did anyone vote for this? Only devolution has worked so well for Scotland and Wales hasn’t it? Not.

Devolution was in the Labour Party manifesto so yes the people who voted for Labour voted for it.

paddyann54

*I am64* it’s not about her being a successful woman…it’s about HIM giving her company a multi million pound contract!
Hasn,t there been far too much of these deals from governments recently.
Is it acceptable to hand out large sums of public money to family and friends?

This is an untrue claim that is doing the rounds on social media do some research and you will find out the truth.

www.thenewworld.co.uk/rats-in-a-sack-andy-burnhams-wife-and-a-completely-invented-social-media-story/

MayBee70. Ive boot voted for Andy in previous leadership contests (Yvette cooper) but id vote for him now. He’s gained in experience and confidence in his time as Mayor. My experience is he’s a warm , compassionate and grounded political person. He’s not play acting like farage. He is as you see him

MayBee70

LizzieDrip

Yes the PLP get to chose - not the grass roots Labour membership (all 250,000 of us)!

As someone pointed out on Facebook they could have chosen someone from the extreme left of the party and installed them as PM. The electorate voted for someone slightly left of centre ( if that even) and didn’t vote for any of Burnhams policies. And from what I can see he is already acting as if he’s PM but with no scrutiny eg refusing to answer questions from the press. No mention of how he’s going to deal with foreign leaders. Just ‘hey I remember when I used to DJ here stuff’. If he stopped doing that I might be more accepting of him but it just reminds me of Farages I’m a man of the people way of selling himself. And all the while Starmer is still just getting on with the job in his quiet boring un charismatic way.

You are right, and that is what is worrying me.

Burnham clearly enjoys the limelight, and is reasonably confident when faced by cameras, with his apparent easy going character. But he simply does not appear to have the depth of character, and I’m sure that this coup has been a long time in the planning, with the help of the right wing press.

Oh I agree WW, this coup has been a long time in the planning.

TBH it’s the coup aspect of the entire thing that has soured the party for me … and it’s my party!

In the past, when people have said to me “Oh they’re all the same”, I’ve defended Labour to the hilt. I’ve said Labour MPs are not devious and scheming like the Tories. But, now it appears they are!

I just don’t trust them any more, and that’s heartbreaking … because I want to.

LizzieDrip that is exactly how I feel about the Conservatives, I suppose I am politically homeless at the moment.

I was really shocked at the results of our County Council election, and for the first time in my life I may have to consider voting tactically in the next GE. Which is something I would never have contemplated before…

It’s actually a horrible feeling isn’t it GG.

If this is what ‘politically homeless’ feels like … I don’t like it😢

Amazing transformation a short while ago Andy Burnham wasn’t even an MP now he looks destined for the top job. Never been a fan of Starmer I am sure he is a very nice man but that’s about it he appears to have no drive he doesn’t instil a feeling of confidence or hope.

Ed Balls on breakfast tv ( I don’t watch it but my partner does) is now saying Burnham doesn’t have a mandate to rule. And yet he, like everybody else, was calling for Starmer to go. Maybe he’s worried that his wife will be out of the cabinet. Yet another person that I feel let down by.; the number grows by the day. I’m even agreeing with things that George Galloway is saying …

LemonJam

DaisyAnneReturns

Oh LemonJam, you do sound down.

My reply 13.47 was meant to be in response to you DAR 💐

Did I misread it? I thought you sounded sad.

From what I can find the 2024 manifesto provides a foundation for many of Burnham's ideas. Burnham's programme is generally more ambitious on devolution, constitutional reform, and local empowerment than the manifesto was. It is more an expansion of Labour's existing direction than a contradiction of it.

Probably the sort of things that Starmer was planning to do in the second term…

I did misread it, didn't I LemonJam.

People are jumping ahead - including me it seems. Sorry