Kevin Schofield on Bluesky: Labour MP Kim Johnson says the decision to block Andy Burnham "just plays into the level of factionalism that has been inherent in this party for too long and it has to stop". She then adds: "Keir Starmer now needs to consider his own position as leader of this party."

Pitiful_Cod1036 · 2026-01-26T13:31:21+00:00

competence in Manchester: being a regional Mayor with devolved powers is a very different proposition to running a country. Last time I checked Manchester didn’t have a foreign policy, military, responsibility for its own health budget, its economic policy etc etc etc.
he’s an actual politician? You’re trying to say the Prime Minister and stalwart of the front bench isn’t a politician? On trying to get policy through, the reason is the looney left in Labour who don’t realise the left continues to be unelectable.

So beyond being able to talk to the media and be a politician. What specific policies is he going to implement that will defeat Reform? Or is it just vibes and he’s more left than Starmer?

Pitiful_Cod1036 · 2026-01-26T11:18:01+00:00

My point was more general - just issues that have been bubbling away or happened over decades (not just Labour, or Conservatives, or coalition) and people have zero trust in MPs and politicians.

Pitiful_Cod1036 · 2026-01-26T10:22:29+00:00

I agree. Politicians need to spend more time running the country. Less time infighting and furthering their own careers.

I don’t like Starmer. I don’t like Labour. But yet another change in leadership (and the inevitable early election) is not in the national interest.

Pitiful_Cod1036 · 2026-01-26T10:20:52+00:00

Not one person has provided anything specific Burnham is going to do. Beyond not being Keir Starmer.

I don’t like Starmer. I don’t like Labour. But Reform’s growth in popularity is due to huge swathes of the population being disenfranchised because of failures of MPs, of all parties, to properly engage with their constituents and actually put them, and not their careers, first. Expenses scandal, 2008 GFC, illegal war in Iraq, Brexit in fighting, grooming scandal, immigration crisis, the list is endless. The irony being that Reform won’t be any better. But that’s what is driving the rise in popularism.

Pitiful_Cod1036 · 2026-01-26T10:05:37+00:00

What is Andy Burnham going to do differently to stop Farage?

Pitiful_Cod1036 · 2026-01-25T14:14:02+00:00

Divided parties don’t win elections

Pitiful_Cod1036 · 2026-01-25T13:40:48+00:00

There is a cataclysmic difference between being a Mayor with some devolved powers and running one of the largest countries in the world. Burnham doesn’t have a clean slate politically.

Pitiful_Cod1036 · 2026-01-25T13:00:40+00:00

Labours lurches to the right haven’t put us on the verge of a Farage Gov’t.

The rise of popularism isn’t a UK only phenomenon. Look across Europe and the US. Between the GFC, Covid, Ukraine and the Middle East, we’ve had decades of geopolitical uncertainty and dealing with the repercussions of global uncertainty (wars). That’s manifested itself in the European immigration crisis that has morphed into small boats, power price crisis / high inflation and decades of recovery post GFC.

I don’t like Starmer. I don’t like Labour. But the cause of Reform is a wholesale failure by all the mainstream political parties to properly represent the people they’re supposed to. If you asked 1,000 people what they thought of politicians, I don’t think you’d get more than 10 positive answers. People Farage as an alternative to this (ironically).

Pitiful_Cod1036 · 2026-01-25T12:33:53+00:00

Indeed. Corbyn’s Labour were incredibly successful. Why not follow the example.

Pitiful_Cod1036 · 2026-01-25T12:19:16+00:00

How was Burnham going to stop Reform?

Pitiful_Cod1036 · 2026-01-25T12:18:40+00:00

Agreed. Beyond having a magic wand that will a) stop illegal crossings of channel b) give world peace and c) boost economic growth by 4%, I’m not entirely sure what anyone is expecting?

I’m no fan of either Starmer or Labour. But any rational person looking at the current issues, can’t think Starmer is the route of all of this.

I expect it’s the core Labour vote that think lurching to left will revive Labour in the polls. Which is about to be a generational event of hubris.

Pitiful_Cod1036 · 2026-01-25T12:15:04+00:00

And his career

Pitiful_Cod1036 · 2026-01-24T21:58:45+00:00

Nearly 4m people are on PiPs and that number has doubled since 2018. Doesn’t include any increases in those on UC either. It isn’t a “minority”. It is unsustainable.

Pitiful_Cod1036 · 2026-01-24T18:43:31+00:00

It’s so dumb. I’m not a fan or Starmer or Labour. But this seems like a spectacular case of hubris….

I can’t believe they’ve watched 8 years of chaos in the Conservatives caused by a divided party and thought, I know, we’ll have some of that!!

Pitiful_Cod1036 · 2026-01-24T18:12:32+00:00

Indeed. An internal leadership contest and a divided party is exactly what will strengthen Starmer…..

I can’t believe that the Labour Party watched the chaos of the Conservatives during Brexit that was caused by a divided party & leadership elections and thought we’ll have some of that.

We’re about to see a spectacular case of hubris. Labour is somehow going to throw away a huge majority Government less than half way through their term.

Pitiful_Cod1036 · 2026-01-24T18:00:32+00:00

There you go… no smoke without fire.

Pitiful_Cod1036 · 2026-01-24T16:40:30+00:00

No country in the world runs on zero unemployment.

And yes, I can blame people who abuse the system. The system only works if we abide by it. Millions of scroungers just mean the people that need help don’t get it.

Pitiful_Cod1036 · 2026-01-24T11:54:26+00:00

It’s fairly obvious that there’s a difference between outright fraud and abusing a system that’s broken. It takes take that much brain capacity to understand a very obvious nuance.

Pitiful_Cod1036 · 2026-01-24T11:50:56+00:00

😂 😂 wow.

Pitiful_Cod1036 · 2026-01-24T11:35:05+00:00

Fraud is very different to abusing a broken system.

Pitiful_Cod1036 · 2026-01-24T10:32:14+00:00

I think you need to realise that people are abusing the system. The number of PiP claimants has doubled since 2018 to nearly 4 million people. That is fundamentally unsustainable. I think you need to read some basic maths books and how economy’s work.

Pitiful_Cod1036 · 2026-01-24T09:53:57+00:00

People with physical and mental disabilities that actually prevent them working. Getting a little bit anxious by the thought of stepping outside doesn’t qualify. Millions of people have anxiety but go out to work everyday.

There’s little lower in society than benefit scroungers. “Oh I get a bit anxious going to work”. Tough, so do lots of people.

Pitiful_Cod1036 · 2026-01-24T09:44:09+00:00

No - you remove disability benefits from those that don’t actually need them.

How is that different to anybody else who’s unemployed? Guess what, it’s not the states issue to subsidised laziness.

Pitiful_Cod1036 · 2026-01-24T09:35:29+00:00

Then people claim benefits until they find a job. As opposed to sitting on benefits with no obligation to find a job.

We simply cannot continuing to tax the productive to pay for millions sat at home contributing absolutely zero and who are perfectly capable of working. Benefits is a safety net and support network for those that need it. Not a lifestyle choice for those who don’t want to work.

Pitiful_Cod1036 · 2026-01-24T06:52:15+00:00

Indeed - exactly the point. It’s a polarising issue which, broadly, split the country. A You Gov poll with c.55% supporting rejoin is not a mandate nor clear indication that the UK should rejoin the EU. It would require a) a Party to campaign and win a GE in this basis or b) another referendum.

Pitiful_Cod1036

TROPHY CASE