It has become fashionable this week to say that all Andy Burnham has been offering recently has been “vibes”. And, if “vibes” means emotional connection, optimism and generalities rather than specifics, then that’s fair. This speech was a vibes masterclass.
But it’s a ghastly term because it’s pejorative and sneery, and it misses what politics is about. When Winston Churchill delivered his brilliant speeches during the second world war, and promised to “fight them on the beaches”, that was just vibes too. You could say the same about Martin Luther King, or Bill Clinton or Barack Obama – or almost anyone else. There was not much policy detail in “I have a dream”.
Burnham is not in that class as an orator, but this speech was in better than anything that Keir Starmer has delivered, and really very, very good indeed. There were two passages that particularly stood out.
The first was the one where he cleverly appropriated and inverted the ‘Andy Burnham walks into a bar” joke. (See 12.31pm.) The self-deprecating joke, “a Burnhamite walks into a bar, as many Burnhamites are known to do”, was particularly nicely phrased, but overall it worked because he was using a joke to shore up a proper argument.
And the second was his line:
The right use the phrase “take back control”, but they are the ones who gave it away in the first place.
This was neat because it linked his argument about Thatcherism and the past 40 years (see 12.40pm) with the need to offer a policy response to the crisis in left-behind areas illustrated by the Brexit vote.
The narrative arc of progressive politics is, almost always, disappointment. Leaders who are best at inspiring hope are also those most likely to hear people saying a few years down the line they have not lived up to expectations.
But hope is always a good starting point; vibes on their own won’t deliver change, but it easier to get things done with them than without them. Burnham’s leadership has got off to a good start.
It was Tony Blair who wrote that the “leader sets out for the people what they need and not simply what they want. Otherwise, the leader is just a follower”.
The incoming prime minister, Andy Burnham, must have been channelling his predecessor when this week he started to set out his views on the big issues facing the UK: should milk go in the cup before the tea? What items belong in a Christmas dinner?
Burnham has kept his plans for office so tightly under wraps that even loyalists within his party are thought to be totally in the dark.
After weeks in which the Makerfield MP has submitted himself to few questions from the media, he was formally announced as Labour leader on Friday. The public will have to wait until next week to hear more details of his plan for government.
But in the meantime we have a TikTok video, published on Thursday, setting out the new prime minister’s likes and dislikes.
Andy Burnham must prioritise the environment and reject North Sea drilling outright, Friends of the Earth has warned.
Rosie Downes, head of campaigns at the organisation, said:
In the midst of an unprecedented summer of deadly heat, anything short of rejecting disastrous projects like Rosebank, Jackdaw and a third runway at Heathrow, and failing to bring forward an all-encompassing fracking ban, would see the new prime minister turning his back on precisely the communities he has sworn to help.
He must stand firm or risk undermining his credibility straight out of the gate.
She added:
We’ve seen the success he had as Greater Manchester mayor in increasing bus use through affordable fares – this is something he should replicate nationally by introducing a £1 bus fare cap.
Alongside this, lowering energy bills through cheap, homegrown renewable power and a new social tariff to help those on the lowest incomes, bringing water back into public ownership so we’re no longer paying through the nose just for water companies to trash our rivers and seas, and ensuring he follows through with concrete action on Palestine – including a full arms embargo on Israel and a trade ban with illegal settlements – should all be top of his priority list.
Shevaun Haviland, director-general of the British Chambers of Commerce, says growth must be “priority number one” for the new prime minister.
In a statement, Haviland said:
The British Chambers of Commerce would like to congratulate Andy Burnham on his successful election as Leader of the Labour party. We stand ready to work in partnership with his new government to deliver the right changes to create the economic prosperity we all depend upon.
A pro-business stance, a focus on education and giving more power to the regions are all welcome. But there are hard yards ahead and the time available to make a difference is limited.
If Burnham is serious about delivering growth across all parts of our economy, then he must be unequivocal in his backing for business. Firms will want to see swift action that shows the new government understands the cost pressures they face and is willing to work with them to cut that burden.
There can be no room for error. Previous missteps, such as the rise in national insurance contributions, have undermined much of the current government’s good work by severely denting business confidence.
Northern Ireland first minister Michelle O’Neill has said a “different approach” is needed when Andy Burnham assumes the role of British prime minister.
She said:
I wish Andy Burnham well on becoming leader of the British Labour Party and stand ready to work constructively with him. A different approach is needed from the British Government.
Successive British governments have implemented policies that have been catastrophic for ordinary people.
They have cut vital public services, deepened inequalities, and left families struggling through a cost of living crisis while a small elite continues to accumulate enormous wealth.
O’Neill added:
I look forward to meeting with Andy Burnham when he takes up the role as British prime minister.
I will make the case for fair funding for public services, action on the cost of living crisis, and full respect for our democratic right to determine our own future here on the island of Ireland.
The interests of all the people of Ireland will be best served when we have full control of our own affairs in a new and united Ireland.
Linda Hobson, who chairs Unison’s Labour Link committee said: “Andy Burnham has earned respect across the Labour movement, and often the political divide, for his achievements.
“Now it’s over to him to show he’s the right person to deliver the party’s promise of change when Labour won its landslide in 2024.”
She added:
Everyone knows the path ahead won’t be easy, but he’s shown he has a powerful voice and gets things done.
Andy Burnham knows the importance of public services and he’s made clear his commitment to a national care service, for which Unison has long campaigned.
The union looks forward to working with him to bring about the transformation so desperately needed for the UK and the emphasis on Labour values. He must get this right and bring back the hope he promises.”
Burnham won his party’s leadership with the support of 379 Labour MPs and 23 affiliate organisations, Labour press has confirmed.
He was elected and confirmed as leader at a special conference at the Trades Union Congress in London.
Andy Burnham has posted this on social media.
It’s the honour of my life to be Leader of the Labour Party.
I will be a leader for every region and nation in this great country, and this Party will be unashamedly Labour in our priorities and in the decisions we take.
Together, we will set Britain on a new path.
That is all from me for today. Tom Ambrose is taking over now.
It has become fashionable this week to say that all Andy Burnham has been offering recently has been “vibes”. And, if “vibes” means emotional connection, optimism and generalities rather than specifics, then that’s fair. This speech was a vibes masterclass.
But it’s a ghastly term because it’s pejorative and sneery, and it misses what politics is about. When Winston Churchill delivered his brilliant speeches during the second world war, and promised to “fight them on the beaches”, that was just vibes too. You could say the same about Martin Luther King, or Bill Clinton or Barack Obama – or almost anyone else. There was not much policy detail in “I have a dream”.
Burnham is not in that class as an orator, but this speech was in better than anything that Keir Starmer has delivered, and really very, very good indeed. There were two passages that particularly stood out.
The first was the one where he cleverly appropriated and inverted the ‘Andy Burnham walks into a bar” joke. (See 12.31pm.) The self-deprecating joke, “a Burnhamite walks into a bar, as many Burnhamites are known to do”, was particularly nicely phrased, but overall it worked because he was using a joke to shore up a proper argument.
And the second was his line:
The right use the phrase “take back control”, but they are the ones who gave it away in the first place.
This was neat because it linked his argument about Thatcherism and the past 40 years (see 12.40pm) with the need to offer a policy response to the crisis in left-behind areas illustrated by the Brexit vote.
The narrative arc of progressive politics is, almost always, disappointment. Leaders who are best at inspiring hope are also those most likely to hear people saying a few years down the line they have not lived up to expectations.
But hope is always a good starting point; vibes on their own won’t deliver change, but it easier to get things done with them than without them. Burnham’s leadership has got off to a good start.
Earlier in the speech Burnham claimed he had not yet decided on key cabinet appointments. He said:
Contrary to what you may keep on reading, I haven’t made any decisions yet about who will be in that top team, but I will soon. And when I have, you will see it reflects all parts of our party, all communities.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: theguardian.com
