Starmer's vision quest

[briantrumpet]

I think Burnham probably got it wrong. There was no guarantee that he'd win the by-election and Labour could well have lost the mayorship.
Add in the leadership challenge and Starmer had no choice. Not that it will make Starmer any safer.

Yeah, I think that just about sums it up. His adherence to the Blue Labour McSweeney/Glasman messaging doesn't endear him to the vast bulk of Labour MPs, I suspect, but equally they don't want a prima donna Messiah (to mix metaphors) lording it over them.

 

[AuroraSaab]

He made a big deal of his commitment to being mayor and then was happy to jump ship for a better opportunity. Burnham will do whatever is best for his personal ambitions. He'll just bide his time, talk about being happy to finish the job he started in Manchester, while engineering another route back to parliament.

 

[C R]

We should remember that Burnham started as a blairite, until the wind direction changed.

 

[Psamathe]

I think Burnham probably got it wrong. There was no guarantee that he'd win the by-election and Labour could well have lost the mayorship.
Add in the leadership challenge and Starmer had no choice. Not that it will make Starmer any safer.

Yeah, I think that just about sums it up. His adherence to the Blue Labour McSweeney/Glasman messaging doesn't endear him to the vast bulk of Labour MPs, I suspect, but equally they don't want a prima donna Messiah (to mix metaphors) lording it over them.

Unless it's strategic. Maybe Burnham always knew what Starmer would do (block him) so making a try was more a step to firm-up his "I'm being blocked/undemocratic/circling wagons".

Burnham has highlighted how Starmer goes defensive blocking opposition. A high risk constituency but maybe Burnham used it (or his being blocked) as part of a longer term game.

I'm completely guessing but there are more interpretations and Burnham certainly knows how to play politics.

 

[CXRAndy]

Assume the polls are correct. There are virtually no seats that is safe for labour

Pollsters are indicating the whole front bench would lose their seat with current polling if an election was called

 

[briantrumpet]

Unless it's strategic. Maybe Burnham always knew what Starmer would do (block him) so making a try was more a step to firm-up his "I'm being blocked/undemocratic/circling wagons".

Burnham has highlighted how Starmer goes defensive blocking opposition. A high risk constituency but maybe Burnham used it (or his being blocked) as part of a longer term game.

I'm completely guessing but there are more interpretations and Burnham certainly knows how to play politics.

Yeah, lots of possible interpretations, though, as I say, I think his rather petulant and hubristic response to rejection ("Only I could have won that by-election") wasn't a good political response, as it will have antagonised a lot of Labour loyalists.

 

[Pross]

For Burnham personally I would say the best bet is to try to get a seat at the next GE. It looks highly likely that Labour will lose that election and Starmer (assuming he is still in charge) will resign leaving a clear path to rebuild the Party and become PM at the following election. Assuming Reform win in 2029 or are part of a coalition it will almost certainly have been a disaster making Labour far more electable. However, 8 years is a long time to wait if you're keen on the top job.

Also, it's weird that bringing about a change of mayor is harder than changing PM which can be done with no say from the electorate as the Tories demonstrated several times in the last decade (I apprecate we elect a Government not a PM but it is still a strange situation).

 

[Pblakeney]

Unless it's strategic. Maybe Burnham always knew what Starmer would do (block him) so making a try was more a step to firm-up his "I'm being blocked/undemocratic/circling wagons".

Burnham has highlighted how Starmer goes defensive blocking opposition. A high risk constituency but maybe Burnham used it (or his being blocked) as part of a longer term game.

I'm completely guessing but there are more interpretations and Burnham certainly knows how to play politics.

That is a possibility but I don't see his next move. Unless it is to wait until post Reform government as Pross outlined.
Bringing about a Reform government and ruining the country might well backfire.

 

[Psamathe]

We should remember that Burnham started as a blairite, until the wind direction changed.

Politicians do seem ready to change stance. But thinking back to Starmer serving under Corbyn's leadership ...

 

[Stevo 666]

I guess not.

Maybe as an experiment, next time I get the opportunity to take out my democratic right for some exercise, I'll vote for the local fascist bigot & see if my IQ increases.

It evidently works for you. 🙂

You can go out your bike whenever you like without having to vote. Or are you just not bright enough to express yourself clearly?

 

[Stevo 666]

I reckon @Stevo 666 is as clever as we think he is.

Thickos often get this wrong.

 

[secretsqirrel]

The whole story is very clickbaity. Politician has ambitions *shock horror*, Burnham stated he wanted to be PM one day, many years ago. He is not the only one. He might well get there eventually, Starmer is not there forever obviously.
In the meantime Streeting has ambition and Rayner, Miliband, Mahmood, might all become leader before Burnham. The joyous speculation!

It’s business as usual in Westminster world.

 

[Stevo 666]

The whole story is very clickbaity. Politician has ambitions *shock horror*, Burnham stated he wanted to be PM one day, many years ago. He is not the only one. He might well get there eventually, Starmer is not there forever obviously.
In the meantime Streeting has ambition and Rayner, Miliband, Mahmood, might all become leader before Burnham. The joyous speculation!

It’s business as usual in Westminster world.

Considering Labour were elected with a big majority only 18 months or so ago, an attempted leadership challenge has come on pretty damn quickly. Wonder why?

 

[secretsqirrel]

Considering Labour were elected with a big majority only 18 months or so ago, an attempted leadership challenge has come on pretty damn quickly. Wonder why?

After the past few years it has become quite normal wouldn’t you say?

 

[Stevo 666]

After the past few years it has become quite normal wouldn’t you say?

When was the last time a leadership challenge emerged within 18 months of a party being elected with a large majority?