Andy Burnham now officially Leader of Labour Party.

Cossy

foxie48

I care about our country and the people who live here so I want any government of any stripe to do a good job which benefits us all. I'd also like to see parties coming together for the common good and if AB manages to that better than it's been in the last few decades, he'll make me happy. the problems we have as a society can't be fixed with short term measure so we need a degree of altruism. Impossible? Probably but I'll give anyone a chance if they are prepared to give it a go and that's what I got from his speech today.

🙏 👏👏👏👏👏

Absolutely.

I wish him well, but after such a long time of 'no such thing as society' it will prove very difficult to get people to part with their money or privilege for the benefit of those with neither. He might pull it off, and I hope he does, but there will be weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth from media (including SM such as on here) and all the sloganeering and spite that goes with that.

I really hope he sorts out social care, and that he does it with the 10% charge on all estates at death that he's talked about before. That might bring on board those who object to 40% IHT on estates worth over a million pounds, and allow those with much smaller estates to keep 90% of them if they need social care instead of having to leave nothing behind. As far as I can see, it seems a way of being fair to everyone.

I don't disagree entirely with his aim to cut the welfare bill, but that is one of those areas in which the Devil is in the detail. I'd like to see the expectation being that everyone able to work will do so, with benefits going only to those who are unable - but how that inability is measured is the dealbreaker for me. The last thing I want to see is people agonising over PIP forms and suffering UC sanctions for minor (and often unavoidable) infractions.

It is far too early to judge though - as has been said, we won't have an idea until September, so IMO it makes sense to wait until then before sniping at him.

I think demagogue is more attributable to Boris Johnson, in all fairness.

MayBee70 thank you for stating some of the very excellent things Sir Keir did while in office. Its seems the country doesn't want to keep a PM with honesty and integrity. I don't know AB but if he has half these qualities we may be Ok. I just worry about AR getting Health as rumored.

I wish him well, but after such a long time of 'no such thing as society' it will prove very difficult to get people to part with their money or privilege for the benefit of those with neither

No chance.

I think AB ideas on medical hubs on the high Street is a good idea, adding in screening and x-rays etc. Not sure where they will find the staff from though In our high street we have a small hub for vaccinations...which helps our GP surgery with not having to run them anymore.

Plevey08

I think AB ideas on medical hubs on the high Street is a good idea, adding in screening and x-rays etc. Not sure where they will find the staff from though In our high street we have a small hub for vaccinations...which helps our GP surgery with not having to run them anymore.

The x ray and scanning centres in all medium+ sized towns in France worked brilliantly. A couple of specialist doctors plus technical staff. You got the results of your mammogram straight away. Ditto the specialist blood test centres where results arrived by email the same day,

Plevey08

I think AB ideas on medical hubs on the high Street is a good idea, adding in screening and x-rays etc. Not sure where they will find the staff from though In our high street we have a small hub for vaccinations...which helps our GP surgery with not having to run them anymore.

Medical hubs could be a good idea if they shorten waits. DH currently can’t get an appointment for over a month, even with a practice nurse.

We do have small injuries clinics which I think are extremely useful.

Yes Foxie, absolutely.
Let’s give him a chance. A few weeks’ respite, during recess, and time for him to focus on his policies. A bit early in my view to talk about ‘Burnhamism’! I would just like this country to be proud of itself again.

I’d like the country to be proud, to recognise how fortunate we are to live here. So many seem to be dissatisfied with pretty much everything. We are more divided which seems crazy. Things aren’t perfect, never were, though I struggle to get beyond the damage inflicted by austerity. Well done Keir Starmer and his party for beginning to improve things. Go Andy 🌞

He doesn't want anyone to have any inherited wealth, yet he will be in the position even if he lasts a week of a very good pension and weakthier than enertering. I don't think it will be too long before the chaos of 70's evolve with all the strikes. How on earth we have ended up with him is a travestry. As for no ID cards! Very useful for all those under the radar. I give up!

The Observer is very upbeat about Burnham.

I think medical hubs are a good idea. Our local A&E has x ray and ct scanners but it’s constantly just full of people who are really ill or have been sent their by their GP

allsorts just to calm your fears a bit.

The unions have little or no power now, so the chaos of the 70s certainly won’t be repeated.

The ID scheme had already been watered down from its original plan, and it was thought that it would only now be voluntary - so its point was no longer there really.

Burnham will be subject to the same tax laws as the rest of us (unless you are Farage of course) so anything he introduces regarding tax wealth will affect him if he is wealthy enough - which I doubt tbh.

Allsorts

He doesn't want anyone to have any inherited wealth, yet he will be in the position even if he lasts a week of a very good pension and weakthier than enertering. I don't think it will be too long before the chaos of 70's evolve with all the strikes. How on earth we have ended up with him is a travestry. As for no ID cards! Very useful for all those under the radar. I give up!

Some very good points and it is indeed a travesty that he can become PM when he has not been elected.

Plenty of other countries use ID cards and have done for years. I think they are commonsense and vital these days. But hey ho, Andy Pandy knows best! 😉

Oreo

If they read any newspaper or none actually greyfur
What kind of person wants this sicko to stay here? He never repudiated the idea that it was wrong to groom and have sex with underage children.He will reoffend for sure.

I agree and he needs to go!

Primrose, he was elected. First as MP for Makerfield and then as leader of LP. The fact he was unopposed for the latter is irrelevant .

… although he wasn’t elected by the Constituency Labour Party membership (approx 250,000 people) of course. But we don’t seem to matter!

LizzieDrip

… although he wasn’t elected by the Constituency Labour Party membership (approx 250,000 people) of course. But we don’t seem to matter!

But that was because no one else was nominated. I can however imagine if I were a LP member, I could feel aggrieved at that. However, as a left of centre member of the public, I’m glad it hasn’t bern protracted and that he’s got the summer to settle in and get his team up and running

I don't remember there being an election for Liz Truss.

Maremia

I don't remember there being an election for Liz Truss.

There was an election for her to become leader. But not for Rishi. But all that matters in any party is that they follow their rules whatever others think of them.

If nobody comes forward in opposition that is as good as being elected, surely? So long as there is opportunity to do so, that is (which there was). It wasn’t a coup d’etat - had anyone felt AB was the wrong man for the job they could have stood against him.

As a matter of interest, how many of the last seven PMs took office after GEs?

I very much hope he can stick to the sort of Labour values that have been lost lately- redistribution of wealth and opportunity (particularly outside of London and the SE) renationalising of utilities and major industries, regenerating areas that have been overlooked for so long, tackling the COL that plagues so many young families, getting more young people into work and so on.

I do understand the rules.

LizzieDrip

I do understand the rules.

If that post was to me, I certainly didn’t mean to imply that you didn’t I suppose I was making the point for those on this thread who don’t seem to understand the rules and believe something nefarious happened.

Nefarious isn't the right word. I think undignified and manipulative possibly might work. I have been clear on my view of Starmer ( and I originally supported him) but I am not going to pretend I think what happened was ok. I too understand the rules of the labour party.