Andy Burnham won Makerfield

Back to Burnham, the more I think about this the more I dislike it. No one really has a clear idea of what Burnham stands for, there isn't even going to be a vote by the labour party, it is simply a coronation of Burnham, a man of whom a large part of the country knows very little.

Oreo

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

I'm not offended by "northern jokes". I just find them pathetic and not funny. I feel a tad sympathetic towards people who seem to think such jokes are worth making because they obviously can't be genuinely funny. I also understand why the people in the "red wall" feel they are faced by an "elite" who give them no control over their lives and make silly stereotypical jokes.

Galaxy

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.

But I didn't mention Greggs or coats!

CatsWhiskas

Oreo

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

I'm not offended by "northern jokes". I just find them pathetic and not funny. I feel a tad sympathetic towards people who seem to think such jokes are worth making because they obviously can't be genuinely funny. I also understand why the people in the "red wall" feel they are faced by an "elite" who give them no control over their lives and make silly stereotypical jokes.

Essex girl jokes are far worse than any northern joke I have ever heard.

Galaxy

Back to Burnham, the more I think about this the more I dislike it. No one really has a clear idea of what Burnham stands for, there isn't even going to be a vote by the labour party, it is simply a coronation of Burnham, a man of whom a large part of the country knows very little.

People do definitely know who he is, he wouldn’t. Currently be top of the pops amongst UK politicians on YouGov if they didn’t. I would think a lot of people remember him from the last Labour government, and the 2015 leadership campaign.

There will be a vote by Labour Party members, if somebody else stands against him - as far as I know we don’t know whether they will or not yet? I hope they do.

Well Streeting isn't so I am guessing not. I would prefer if there was a leadership election.
If they remember the leadership elections that won't be a good thing - came 4th out of 5 and in the second one lost to Corbyn.

It’s up to the MPs to decide if they want somebody to stand against him now, if somebody does it will be a candidate from the left I would think. I’d like party members to have a say, but I think he would get the job regardless.

Galaxy

Back to Burnham, the more I think about this the more I dislike it. No one really has a clear idea of what Burnham stands for, there isn't even going to be a vote by the labour party, it is simply a coronation of Burnham, a man of whom a large part of the country knows very little.

Makerfield residents were asked to vote just last Thursday and they overwhelmingly voted for AB- who won more votes than all the other candidates put together! They knew enough what AB stood for and overwhelmingly preferred him to other candidates. Yours and mine and others individual preferences count for little in UK politics- we are a democracy and it is always the majority vote wins the day. AB has a substantial track record in favourable ratings and election votes over the past 10 years. Starmer wasn't even in politics 10 years ago.

AB has been around the block for many years and has won three successive Grter Manchester Mayoral elections- so there are many outside Makerfield who know what he stands for. I met him when he was health secretary some years ago now and can assure you many who worked in the nHS at the time knew what he stood for.

The leadership choice will not be made by members of the public - it is an internal party issue as a set out in their constitution. The public voted for the LP at the last GE and the LP they have until the next GE.

Once the new PM is elected and gets on top of their brief - they then will communicate to the electorate- then you will know more what they stand for as leader of the LP.

I don't mean to be funny but I know about the processes of the labour party.
The citizens of Makerfield were faced with an unnecessary by election, another factor which makes me uncomfortable.
I am afraid that whatever Burnham announces he stands for it will be very unlikely I would vote Labour that ship has sailed for me.

You feel uncomfortable and you won't vote Labour- and thats ok Galaxy. But it's clearly not the case that "No one really has a clear idea of what Burnham stands for..... a man of whom a large part of the country knows very little" as you posted.

GG13

Essex girl/boy jokes are the pits and I’ve been the butt of them my entire life, despite having a Queens English accent, not dropping my “ts and hs”, never wore white shoes, don’t dance round my handbag, never had a spray tan, don’t watch The Only Way Is Essex, say “init” or brag about my (lack of) money!

🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

Granny from Lancashire, Grandpa from Cumbria, parents Essex born and bred, grammar school educated and very BBC accents!

Galaxy

Back to Burnham, the more I think about this the more I dislike it. No one really has a clear idea of what Burnham stands for, there isn't even going to be a vote by the labour party, it is simply a coronation of Burnham, a man of whom a large part of the country knows very little.

Burnham has been promoting Aspirational Socialism for years, l doubt he's going to change tack now.

LemonJam the LP has 250,000 grass roots members (of whom I’m one).

If there’s no leadership election it feels very much like democracy denied to the LP membership.

I hope with all my heart a Labour MP has the balls to stand against AB so we can observe fair, rigorous scrutiny.

I think, in the long run, this would be better for Burnham himself. If he wins (which he probably will) it’s better to say ‘I have a mandate from the LP wider grass roots membership’ than ‘I have a mandate from just one specific constituency’.

The way Burnham’s return to the HoC has been facilitated already feels grubby to me and leaves a bad taste.

I really do not support the further idea of him (or anyone for that matter) being handed the keys to N0 10 without proper scrutiny and a democratic vote by the membership.

“OldFrill

Galaxy
Back to Burnham, the more I think about this the more I dislike it. No one really has a clear idea of what Burnham stands for, there isn't even going to be a vote by the labour party, it is simply a coronation of Burnham, a man of whom a large part of the country knows very little.
Burnham has been promoting Aspirational Socialism for years, l doubt he's going to change tack now.“

Why does that make him a different in his views and beliefs than Starmer?

Time will tell, like some on here this process has left a sour taste in my mouth, particularly in the light of two unnecessary expensive elections.

I don’t dislike AB, in some respects, as a party leader and instant PM he is an unknown entity. I don’t dislike Starmer either. I just don’t agree with how this all happened. Anyone know what happened to the original Makerfield MP?

Lizziedrip- you know the LP party constitution better than me I'm sure as a LP member.

Streeting has ruled himself out- it's yet to be seen how many other contenders manage to secure 81 MP backers to also stand as a contender against AB and how the vote goes if so.

Would you hold AB personally responsible if no other contenders get the 81 vote backing and/or do not come forward?

LemonJam

Lizziedrip- you know the LP party constitution better than me I'm sure as a LP member.

Streeting has ruled himself out- it's yet to be seen how many other contenders manage to secure 81 MP backers to also stand as a contender against AB and how the vote goes if so.

Would you hold AB personally responsible if no other contenders get the 81 vote backing and/or do not come forward?

I would. I feel he was sneaky and came in via the back door.

He’s been in cahoots with other LP MPs ever since he denied the chance to run in the earlier Denton by election.

Not the best decision made by Starmer!

Don’t you get the impression that Burnham is who the majority of MPs want though, I do? I suspect Streeting couldn't get the votes to stand against him, once Burnham was elected, although they wanted to get Starmer to stand down. and Starmer himself couldn’t muster enough support either. Who else is there with any chance of getting 81 votes?

I think AB would be willing to face a leadership vote/election- just not sure it can be deemed his fault and his responsibility if other contenders don't put themselves up for a vote. But appreciate others hold different views.

Yes, I agree.

I wouldn't have taken that selfie if I was him but thats possibly why I won't be PM.

I’m with Casdon and LemonJam in believing Burnham would be happy to be part of a leadership election. I don’t think it’s likely to happen but if it did, imo Andy would win.

I wish none of this had happened but any party or government who is determined not to read the room, will end up being criticised and dismissed

LemonJam of course I don’t hold Burnham personally responsible for the workings of the LP constitution.

However, I do believe that he and his team will have been busy ‘persuading’ MPs not to stand against him … possibly with the promise of top Cabinet jobs. It’s clearly already worked with Wes Streeting - let’s see what plum job he gets in Burnham’s Cabinet.

I suppose this sort of behind the scenes behaviour is just ‘politics’ … I find it sneaky, disingenuous and rather cowardly. Why doesn’t Burnham want to face the scrutiny of a leadership election?

I would prefer a leadership election!

How do we conclude Burnham doesn’t want a leadership contest.

Well it is possible he has nightmares about the last two leadership elections.

LizzieDrip

LemonJam of course I don’t hold Burnham personally responsible for the workings of the LP constitution.

However, I do believe that he and his team will have been busy ‘persuading’ MPs not to stand against him … possibly with the promise of top Cabinet jobs. It’s clearly already worked with Wes Streeting - let’s see what plum job he gets in Burnham’s Cabinet.

I suppose this sort of behind the scenes behaviour is just ‘politics’ … I find it sneaky, disingenuous and rather cowardly. Why doesn’t Burnham want to face the scrutiny of a leadership election?

I would prefer a leadership election!

Thats speculative - but on balance I speculate it’s more likely Streeting didn’t have the 81 votes of support and/ or he can read the room and he has decided it’s in his best interests to negotiate for * his* best outcome as not likely to win vote.

I am 100 positive AB is happy and willing to face a vote- if only to face down such disingenuous comments he is sneaky and cowardly.