Current Affairs The Labour Party

[Black Belt Jones]

I actually really like Andy Burnham. Any one else agree? I'd like to see him become an MP again and go for labour party leader..

Despite DaveK's endorsement I'm not sure he has what it takes at the very top level - he's clearly solid, people like him, but this is a man who lost a leadership election to Jeremy Corbyn.
That's not as damning as it sounds, as there was a huge equilibrium shift that was way bigger than his, or anyone else's, candidacy. But seeing how he reacted was pretty bad at the time - he seemed to really struggle with articulating his vision and came across as an ineffectual triangulator (very significant leadership contest to lose for the country, in hindsight).

That was a few years back, though, so surely he will have learned some hard lessons from that.

 

[dannyboy]

Despite DaveK's endorsement I'm not sure he has what it takes at the very top level - he's clearly solid, people like him, but this is a man who lost a leadership election to Jeremy Corbyn.
That's not as damning as it sounds, as there was a huge equilibrium shift that was way bigger than his, or anyone else's, candidacy. But seeing how he reacted was pretty bad at the time - he seemed to really struggle with articulating his vision and came across as an ineffectual triangulator (very significant leadership contest to lose for the country, in hindsight).

That was a few years back, though, so surely he will have learned some hard lessons from that.

The problem with that election was we had 3 candidates saying the only way forward was to be more like the Tories. You say he struggled to articulate his vision, that's because quite simply there wasn't one. If Burnham had put forward even moderate centre left ideas he'd have won easily.

 

[peteblue]

I actually really like Andy Burnham. Any one else agree? I'd like to see him become an MP again and go for labour party leader..

Lightweight......

 

[dead_soft]

Lightweight......

What do you mean by this?

 

[Blues Harp]

Despite DaveK's endorsement I'm not sure he has what it takes at the very top level - he's clearly solid, people like him, but this is a man who lost a leadership election to Jeremy Corbyn.
That's not as damning as it sounds, as there was a huge equilibrium shift that was way bigger than his, or anyone else's, candidacy. But seeing how he reacted was pretty bad at the time - he seemed to really struggle with articulating his vision and came across as an ineffectual triangulator (very significant leadership contest to lose for the country, in hindsight).

That was a few years back, though, so surely he will have learned some hard lessons from that.

Think he voted for, and heavily endorsed Starmer in the LP leader contest.
If he is as good as people think why did he not stand himself?

 

[NilSatisOptimum]

I actually really like Andy Burnham. Any one else agree? I'd like to see him become an MP again and go for labour party leader..

Not sure England is quite ready to dispense of ingrained snobbery and tribalism for a regional accent to be speaking as Prime Minister.

 

[Aberblue]

Think he voted for, and heavily endorsed Starmer in the LP leader contest.
If he is as good as people think why did he not stand himself?

Because he isn't an MP.

 

[peteblue]

What do you mean by this?

 

[Black Belt Jones]

The problem with that election was we had 3 candidates saying the only way forward was to be more like the Tories. You say he struggled to articulate his vision, that's because quite simply there wasn't one. If Burnham had put forward even moderate centre left ideas he'd have won easily.

Yes it was an open goal and he skied it into row Z. Maybe he thought it was a tap-in all along so could get by with some platitudes, or maybe he is just a natural consensus politician that can get stuff done, but is unable to adapt that approach to Leadership where you need to put your stamp on things and get people inspired? Don't know - he'll be wiser for it in any case but it might have been his one shot, and a costly failure it was for all of us because of what happened next;

 

[Blues Harp]

Because he isn't an MP.

Ahh...of course he had to give up his Leigh seat to become mayor in 2017.....strange decision imo after he had held cabinet posts under Brown. Suspect his ship has sailed as far as LP leader is concerned but politics throws up strange situations....kook at Bozo as tory leader for example.

 

[BigMick]

Yes it was an open goal and he skied it into row Z. Maybe he thought it was a tap-in all along so could get by with some platitudes, or maybe he is just a natural consensus politician that can get stuff done, but is unable to adapt that approach to Leadership where you need to put your stamp on things and get people inspired? Don't know - he'll be wiser for it in any case but it might have been his one shot, and a costly failure it was for all of us because of what happened next;

I'm sure Burnham, and Sadiq Khan for that matter, have not given up on becoming leader, but SKS will be leading Labour into the next election and any chance they have will depend on what happens then. Burnham is around 50 at the moment, so won't be too old in 4 or even 9 years. Being Mayor of Manchester will look good on his CV, and certainly in recent weeks he's raised his profile with the general public. I remain unconvinced by him but the potential opposition looks similarly mediocre, judging by the Shadow Cabinet. Labour, though, will surely be under pressure to elect their first female leader next time around, which could put Rayner in prime position, depending on the circumstances of Sir Keir's exit.

 

[JimmyJeffers]

Ahh...of course he had to give up his Leigh seat to become mayor in 2017.....strange decision imo after he had held cabinet posts under Brown. Suspect his ship has sailed as far as LP leader is concerned but politics throws up strange situations....kook at Bozo as tory leader for example.

I doubt it. Seemed like a strategic decision to distance himself from Corbyn or looking like a failed contender. He’ll be back as an MP and sniffing around any leadership contest at some point I’d imagine.
He kinda has always reminded me of Aidan Gillen’s character from The Wire for some reason. He talks well enough but it all seems pretty superficial.

 

[roydo]

He talks well enough but it all seems pretty superficial.

Burnham?

Alistaer (sic) Campbell would agree. Apparently.

 

[JimmyJeffers]

I'm sure Burnham, and Sadiq Khan for that matter, have not given up on becoming leader, but SKS will be leading Labour into the next election and any chance they have will depend on what happens then. Burnham is around 50 at the moment, so won't be too old in 4 or even 9 years. Being Mayor of Manchester will look good on his CV, and certainly in recent weeks he's raised his profile with the general public. I remain unconvinced by him but the potential opposition looks similarly mediocre, judging by the Shadow Cabinet. Labour, though, will surely be under pressure to elect their first female leader next time around, which could put Rayner in prime position, depending on the circumstances of Sir Keir's exit.

I like Sadiq Khan but he is loathed by many for being seen as being part of the ‘LONDON METROPOLITAN ELITE!!!’ Will do well in the big cities but your rural and small town/city areas aren’t going to vote him in. Obviously being non-white isn’t gonna do him many favours.

 

[JimmyJeffers]

Burnham?

Alistaer (sic) Campbell would agree. Apparently.

Yeah. I think @The Esk might have mentioned that before. Definitely read it on these pages. Campbell’s opinion doesn’t carry much weight these days mind.