Gransnet forums

News & politics

Am I just being impatient and mean? New PM

(236 Posts)
Cossy Wed 22-Jul-26 19:02:17

I feel, even though I’m a LP supporter, quite irritated already with Andy Burnham.

Quite honestly, even for the poorest, £45 (on average) reduction in an entire year (offset by cap rises plus the fact that this isn’t necessarily going to last for an entire year) and re-capping bus fares at £2 per journey, is this really what people want and does it truly make a “cost of living” difference.

Why, oh why, couldn’t he have simply increased the tax threshold and benefitted all low paid workers and pensioners?

We all know personal income tax will need to rise. Why not bite the bullet and just raise the threshold, then tax income tax at a higher rate?

I know he’s said he’ll look again at tax thresholds later, but it was said in such a way that I feel it simply won’t be unfrozen.

He faces all the same problems as Starmer, yet the two years work Starmer has done to try and stabilise things like the economy will simply become part of Burham’s legacy.

Maybe I need an early night and a nice glass of something? 🍷🥃🍸🍹

Casdon Sat 25-Jul-26 10:27:04

I doubt he is aiming his Instagram account at grans? It would be interesting to get the view on his social media presence from his target audience.

I’m not Burnham’s biggest fan, but I do think some of the criticism on here is petty and is far fetched, surely what we should be judging him on is what he actually does for the country, not this peripheral stuff?

GrannyGravy13 Sat 25-Jul-26 10:22:24

I am trying very hard not to criticise our new

He is trying to show that he is a man of the people and a cool cat. But, we have yet to see him on the world stage, something KS was very good at.

I shall wait to see if AB can be diplomatic when dealing with the current POTUS and other world leaders…

LizzieDrip Sat 25-Jul-26 10:18:26

I’ve seen his stuff on Instagram … cringeworthy!

Trying too hard to be cool; name dropping “Oo, I must give that gold disc on the wall back to Johnny Marr”; pulling pints; driving a bus; telling us he does DJ sets (if you need to tell us, we really don’t need to know).

It’s all got David Brent vibes … except it’s real.

He’s like an embarrassing dad trying to impress his teenager’s friends … except he’s the Prime Minister of the UK.

Not for me thanks!

GrannyGravy13 Sat 25-Jul-26 09:58:01

NotSpaghetti

I haven't seen any social media videos.
Where are they?

He has accounts on TikTok and Instagram.

Harris27 Sat 25-Jul-26 09:38:10

Think you’re being a bit harsh. I thought Starmer would help the ones that needed it never mind daft id badges! Give Andy a chance think he’s done more in one week than Starmer did when he first started, give him a chance.

NotSpaghetti Sat 25-Jul-26 09:31:18

I haven't seen any social media videos.
Where are they?

MayBee70 Sat 25-Jul-26 00:54:23

I can’t work out which are spoof videos on social media and which are actual government ones. Is this being aimed at potential 16 year old voters? I mean, I don’t actually care which are Burnhams favourite albums of all time.

Graphite Sat 25-Jul-26 00:18:15

He can play this until September but there is only so much that can be done in regional offices. Once Parliament resumes, he will have to accept that much of the day-to-day work is cross party and carried out in committees in Westminster. MPs need to be in Parliament to take part in debates and divisions.

Friday is traditionally the day that MPs should spend in their constituencies, unless Private Members Bills are being debated on the Fridays set aside of that.

It isn’t all about London but neither is it all about Manchester or indeed England.

NotSpaghetti Fri 24-Jul-26 23:58:27

Wyllow3

He's moved into Number 10, but his constituency is in Manchester.

So he'd be travelling there anyway. Just over 2 hours on the train, right into central Manchester near where they met.

We don't say that No 10 "treads on the toes" of London's Mayor, do we? Different roles.

His constituency is in Greater Manchester but I think it may really be closer to Liverpool.

However I do think it's a mistake for him to have a no10 of the north in Manchester.
It really should be further north. in the north.

LizzieDrip Fri 24-Jul-26 23:42:35

I live in the North West of England. I don’t support Burnham’s ‘No 10 of the North’.

He clearly feels more ‘at home’ and confident in Manchester - it’s his comfort zone. He clearly doesn’t like Westminster - perhaps he feels he doesn’t fit in there?

But he’s the PM of the UK now - he’s got his dream job. Time to move out of your comfort zone Burnham!

Wyllow3 Fri 24-Jul-26 22:18:09

I say see how it goes.

Galaxy Fri 24-Jul-26 21:53:35

I am Norrhern. I couldn't care less about his one day in the north. I neither approve or disapprove.

Wyllow3 Fri 24-Jul-26 21:48:29

Hmmm. As a Northerner I very strongly feel that I want more power moving away from one power centre.

there's a to of support for this.

Throwing the Security issue in it is just an attempt to find reasons to attack Burnham and policies, just like people went all out to attack Starmer when he first came in.

It's generally approved of by those of us who live in the North of England, and the success of the meeting today was a good start.

Why don't people give him a chance? I see those who are fed up Starmer has gone - but it's happened:

...and those who want to criticise the LP anyway in favour of other POV.

Mollygo Fri 24-Jul-26 21:39:54

Former police protection chiefs note that the interim facility will require millions of pounds in technical security upgrades. Future retrofits are expected to introduce dedicated safe rooms, deeper surveillance networks, and underground detection systems.

Oreo Fri 24-Jul-26 20:34:51

I’m hoping he can turn around the fortunes of the LP but think he has to let go of Manchester now he has the role he wanted.

Oreo Fri 24-Jul-26 20:33:00

As PM he wouldn’t be travelling up there all that much, yes he has a constituency but am betting that all PM’s have many local admin staff to deal with everyday stuff for them.
As PM he has to be in London for a great deal of the time but by making things all about Manchester now he’s no longer the Mayor….just why?

MayBee70 Fri 24-Jul-26 20:31:55

How much will the security cost?

Wyllow3 Fri 24-Jul-26 20:25:48

He's moved into Number 10, but his constituency is in Manchester.

So he'd be travelling there anyway. Just over 2 hours on the train, right into central Manchester near where they met.

We don't say that No 10 "treads on the toes" of London's Mayor, do we? Different roles.

Oreo Fri 24-Jul-26 20:14:34

😂what happens if you don’t have a chimney? I’ll stick with the old reliable magic carpet.

Casdon Fri 24-Jul-26 20:10:39

Oreo

Casdon

fancythat

Casdon

That’s a bit of a n illogical comment though, as a major incident could be anywhere he wasn’t?

Do you, or a member of your family work for the Labour government in any way?

You always seem to be a mouthpiece for it.

Whichever way it heads.

No. I’d say that whichever person it was about. None of us can be in the right place when incidents occur, unless we have flue powder.

Flue powder? 🤔 a mix of soot and Beechams?🤭

Harry Potter Oreo. They throw it up the chimney and it transports them anywhere they want to go, instantly.

Oreo Fri 24-Jul-26 19:55:33

I really think he has to leave Manchester behind for the next Mayor to get on with.
He already has his Makerfield constituency as well as being the PM.
Not moving into Number 10 Downing Street is a strange sort of snub.

Oreo Fri 24-Jul-26 19:53:12

Am not sure if this ‘Number 10 of the North’ thing is a wise move from Burnham.
The seat of power is in Downing St which everyone understands.If moved to Manchester how do voters down in the West Country or Norfolk feel?
Also it takes away from whoever gets the job of Manchester Mayor, steps on their toes.

Oreo Fri 24-Jul-26 19:49:37

Casdon

fancythat

Casdon

That’s a bit of a n illogical comment though, as a major incident could be anywhere he wasn’t?

Do you, or a member of your family work for the Labour government in any way?

You always seem to be a mouthpiece for it.

Whichever way it heads.

No. I’d say that whichever person it was about. None of us can be in the right place when incidents occur, unless we have flue powder.

Flue powder? 🤔 a mix of soot and Beechams?🤭

Wyllow3 Fri 24-Jul-26 19:16:44

I liked the first meeting of the "Northern Cabinet" (if that was its exact name) in Manchester today.

There were mayors from across the North not all Labour Party by any means - but there was a positive response to this move.

No, it wasn't "plotted from the start". It was being spoken of in the LP meetings around April/May tho speculatively

Casdon Fri 24-Jul-26 18:39:19

fancythat

Casdon

That’s a bit of a n illogical comment though, as a major incident could be anywhere he wasn’t?

Do you, or a member of your family work for the Labour government in any way?

You always seem to be a mouthpiece for it.

Whichever way it heads.

No. I’d say that whichever person it was about. None of us can be in the right place when incidents occur, unless we have flue powder.