Andy Burnham won Makerfield

Galaxy

It will be no different to the current government, he will have a six month popularity bounce and that will be it. Same as most prime ministers in the last few years ( except truss who had no popularity whatsoever) .
Dh works in housing/ regeneration, deals with local authorities across the country, he has nothing but praise for Rayner when she was in that role.
I have very little time for Nandy, I am afraid she is one of those cabinet ministers who make me worry about the calibre of current politicians.

I agree that the government will be no different to the current government whether Burnham is PM or not.
Whilst we live in an economy run on neoliberal lines, where “the markets” are in charge, we do have a true democracy. Any attempt to change will be firmly quashed by those with a vested interest in maintaining the status quo. ie the rich and powerful.

I agree with David, having to keep the triple lock because pensioners' votes are so important, is one of the reasons why personal allowance stays at £1257.
It lowers the fiscal impact ot the triple lock.

Casdon

I suppose in that respect her public persona is similar to that of Boris Johnson.

Except that she did actually do a lot of work when she was in office.

valdali

I agree with David, having to keep the triple lock because pensioners' votes are so important, is one of the reasons why personal allowance stays at £1257.
It lowers the fiscal impact ot the triple lock.

In a more sane world the pension would be higher and the personal allowances would be higher.

When it comes down to it, for a pensioner existing solely on a state pension the 'triple lock' in real terms ends up being a small percentage of not very much.

Thx GrannyGravy, so, "should have kept the Tories"???

That puts you in favour of the corruption and self-interest that was a key to BoJo's spell in charge (your family got some good contracts?), and you REALLY want to hand the country over to a party that chose Liz Truss as leader/PM, arguably THE most incompetent & charisma-free in the UK's history (& some strong competition)?

You do like to make some odd comments?! (& for maybe the 100th time, I have no especial party loyalty -- I suggested back in about the 80s that we subcontract out our Parliament to somebody sensible like Denmark or Holland, they could do a better job for less on about 2 days a week).

Yes, Burnham won. And Farrago was quick to defend their crushing loss (in a seat they'd expressed great confidence in winning!!), as "anti-Starmer" (sooooo, a great potential PM like Nigel couldn't have guessed that?).

So, great 'spin' from Farrago and his team. But, he doubtless doesn't want to admit that voters may just, belatedly, have started to see him as an anti-Semitic and racist bigot? Nor would he likely want to admit - could be just a day or two away -- that their candidate, in several unfortunate TV i'views, compared less than favourably with the famous 3 short planks, and voters didn't want HIM as an MP?!

Dr Watson - you made me smile, thank you

And now Trump is braying for Starmer to go mainly because he would not endorse his foray into Iran! If only the orange idiot would keep to his own back yard!

But it was right for the UK to stay out of Iran - we have very limited capability for war and if Trump wanted a war, he needed to take full responsibility for waging it.

Ronib I agree 100%
It was totally the right call by Starmer who recognised the folly of Trump’s decision! Now Trump is denigrating Starmer 😤

Very interesting TRIP on this especially at 33 minutes:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQTo7-bmAWg

Parliament goes into recess on 16 July 2026 less than a month away and doesn’t return until 1 September 2026, soon after which, conference season starts.

As Campbell points out, processes will already be in hand for the Autumn Statement in November 2026. If Burnham is planning on a major cabinet reshuffle which he would be likely to do, possibly making Ed Miliband Chancellor, it doesn’t leave a great deal of time for any major change in economic policy.

52 questions Richard Murphy has posed to Burnham … starts:

If Andy Burnham is serious about becoming prime minister, then there are a series of questions he needs to answer before anyone can sensibly judge whether he offers a genuine alternative to the current government, or merely a different personality pursuing much the same agenda. The questions need to go beyond personality, competence, or electability. They need to establish what he believes, what he would do, and how he understands the challenges the UK faces.

www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2026/06/21/fifty-two-questions-for-andy-burnham/

But David - my impression is that the majority DO like him.

I don't think he's disliked.
The (cartoon) presentation of him isn't liked of course.
I haven't actually heard of anyone who knows him, to not like him.

Galaxy

I saw a vaguely funny post that Burnham should focus on his northerness rather than his left wing credentials .
Turn all empty shops into Greggs.
Compulsory talking to strangers on public transport.
No coats allowed on nights out.
And so on.

As a northerner, I don't find that funny. It's deeply patronising and part of the reason why northerners don't feel they're represented.

CatsWhiskas

Galaxy

I saw a vaguely funny post that Burnham should focus on his northerness rather than his left wing credentials .
Turn all empty shops into Greggs.
Compulsory talking to strangers on public transport.
No coats allowed on nights out.
And so on.

As a northerner, I don't find that funny. It's deeply patronising and part of the reason why northerners don't feel they're represented.

Galaxy is a northerner too, you know.

I’m just an honorary one by 50 years residence in Yorkshire and Durham; I find the ignorance of my fellow southerners a bit sad.

And Greggs sausage rolls are the best 😆

I didn't know, but I still find the comment patronising. There are obviously pockets of wealth in the "north". It isn't one homogenous, united territory, but there are real problems in the former industrial towns, which it appears some people just don't recognise, if they think the "north" is all about flat caps, pigeon racing and rugby league. Maybe they haven't been listening and Reform is right!

I'm not sure how the stereotypical southern image of northerners is connected to the 'not listening' trope. I think that 'not listening' can be claimed by the disadvantaged in any part of the UK.

NotSpaghetti

But David - my impression is that the majority DO like him.

I don't think he's disliked.
The (cartoon) presentation of him isn't liked of course.
I haven't actually heard of anyone who knows him, to not like him.

Im one who does like him, if there are others they are being very quiet, all the noise is coming from those who want him gone.
His policies are as good you can expect from a Labour PM but if the troops won't follow him how can he lead.

He's gone so now we wait and see what happens next

Graphite

Very interesting TRIP on this especially at 33 minutes:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQTo7-bmAWg

Parliament goes into recess on 16 July 2026 less than a month away and doesn’t return until 1 September 2026, soon after which, conference season starts.

As Campbell points out, processes will already be in hand for the Autumn Statement in November 2026. If Burnham is planning on a major cabinet reshuffle which he would be likely to do, possibly making Ed Miliband Chancellor, it doesn’t leave a great deal of time for any major change in economic policy.

52 questions Richard Murphy has posed to Burnham … starts:

If Andy Burnham is serious about becoming prime minister, then there are a series of questions he needs to answer before anyone can sensibly judge whether he offers a genuine alternative to the current government, or merely a different personality pursuing much the same agenda. The questions need to go beyond personality, competence, or electability. They need to establish what he believes, what he would do, and how he understands the challenges the UK faces.

www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2026/06/21/fifty-two-questions-for-andy-burnham/

I don't listen to podcasts but I do follow Murphy.

I think his questions are pertinent particularly in regard to economic policy. I have a feeling that Burnham will make a better leader than Starmer and may improve the country's mood, but if he doesn't get the economics right we will be stuck in just the same place we're in now. It isn't very encouraging when he says he will stick to Reeve's fiscal rules. They were absurd and damaging and should be jettisoned.

Neoliberalism and the household budget myth is killing economies and is highly divisive in creating poverty and deprivation while pandering to wealth.

Well said MaisieD
I read the Murphy questions and I wish I was more optimistic about Burnham, but unfortunately I think he will be seriously constrained when he becomes PM.

Many powerful actors have a vested interest in maintaining our current economic model and “household budget myth”, and the MM continues to promote this myth.

I have lived in the north all my life, cats whiskas, and am very proud of Greggs .
Actually that is true I can't think of a better example of a family firm making a success nationwide whilst not turning their back on their customer base. Possibly some arguments about the health benefits ( worse than mcdonalds in some aspects) but thats by the by. I also spent many happy hours in my youth freezing on the Quayside with no coat.
I am however utterly unconvinced that the king of the north will be able to succeed where Starmer has 'failed'.

Galaxy

I have lived in the north all my life, cats whiskas, and am very proud of Greggs .
Actually that is true I can't think of a better example of a family firm making a success nationwide whilst not turning their back on their customer base. Possibly some arguments about the health benefits ( worse than mcdonalds in some aspects) but thats by the by. I also spent many happy hours in my youth freezing on the Quayside with no coat.
I am however utterly unconvinced that the king of the north will be able to succeed where Starmer has 'failed'.

What on earth has Greggs got to do with what I wrote?

I'm baffled about your comment about spending hours on the quayside without a coat. Was that from choice or didn't you have a coat?

All I wrote was that I'm a northerner, which I am. I witnessed the disappearance of the area's main industry and consequent unemployment and all that goes with diminishing resources.

What I really do not find funny is all the patronising stereotypes about people from the north. I actually married somebody who came from the "south" and I had to bite my tongue a few times when my snobby and condescending mother-in-law when she "casually" dropped "northern jokes" into the conversation. When my children were looking at universities, this woman told my daughter not to look at anywhere in the north - so my daughter applied to and went to Durham. Hahaha!

Being offended by others seems to be a national pastime these days.

You’re well ‘ard Galaxy ….I was always muffled up as a teenager, you couldn’t get out the door past Mum otherwise😁

I mentioned greggs and coats in the stereotypes of the north post which seemed to worry you.
I am ferrying someone around an open day at durham uni this week.