Nice article, gave me hope. And I will, as you asked, f off just as soon as I've flagged "It is the government equivalent of that draw in your house with all the old adaptors and USB cables." 'draw' should be 'drawer' I believe.
He has managed to alienate many voters by his attempt at ‘slickness’.
His trumpeted initiatives have been revealed as rehashed measures or ones that will make very little difference to anyone.
He has used the government plane jet twice at a cost of £30,000 per trip to the taxpayer at a time when the NHS cannot afford to treat those in pain, at a time when hospital beds are being cut due to shortage of money.
I agree that it is a refreshing change to have a PM who is clear about his vision and has a coherent and well communicated plan to put it in place.
This week for me though has been tarnished by Burnhams decision to fund his bus fare policy in large part by cutting the climate adaptation part of the already diminished foreign aid budget. This is a big red line for me and just smacks of someone taking the convenient and popular option rather than the right one.
Yes I know that that this money will still go to climate adaptation initiatives in the form of loans rather than grants, but this has the effect of putting poorer countries in debt and risks excluding the very poorest nations who have little chance of repaying. This will affect some of the poorest communities worldwide who are the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Is a £1 reduction in bus fare really worth this cost?
As someone who used to work for a government inquiry led by the clueless Cabinet office I have never agreed with a sentence from you more than this ‘Cabinet Office, which is a kind of management swamp, with no clear function, stuffed to the gills with all the different functions which didn’t fit in a specific department. It is the government equivalent of that drawer in your house” I’m encouraged by Burnham he has policy he has drive, charisma and passion - I’m disheartened by some of the terrible cabinet choices namely Mamood staying in the home office and my hero Lord Timpson removed from the Prison service. Its early days but the difference between the hapless policy absent Starmer is already un-mistakable. It will be an interesting time.
(I think you’ve been unduly harsh on Keir Starmer both politically (in terms of the dung hills that he had to shift for Labour and for the country) and as a human being, but that’s another story).
When he stops the USA using UK air-bases to bomb Iran, and does something about the genocide in Gaza, I'll concede he's a man of good character and moral standing. It would be nice to have a PM with those attributes.
And... I have to pick you up on this: "most of the country, work in white collar jobs. We are a services economy. It is good to be a services economy. It is nice that people can make money in nice, clean, safe jobs." You can't equate "service economy" with "white collar... nice, clean, safe jobs". Ask nurses, the care home sector, emergency services, pub & restaurant staff, if they have nice, clean, safe, white-collar jobs.
Judge people by their actions. He has failed to show any independent thought, still pleasing others, so he can’t have honesty or integrity or humanity.
I think it's way too early to judge. And way too early to be lavishing praise, such as: "professional political operation". Whatever happens, he/Labour won't be getting my vote.
An interesting read and an important point that a coherent strategy to tackle the big issues is vital. Number 10 absolutely needs more economic thinking so it doesn't just become constrained by the orthodoxy of the treasury. To create new economic outcomes requires structural changes in who our economy serves. For example, the balance of power between the central bank and government (who does the current institutional arrangement benefit?) and fiscal devolution (is it possible to take devolution a step further into currency devolution?). Will the changes in the structure of number 10 allow for the serious discussion of these topics without the treasury orthodoxy reinforcing the current status quo?
Ah, professionalism, how we have missed thee. There will be some who are old enough to vote but too young to know what that looks like. I think the industrialisation point is well meaning but flawed, Ian. An industrial base is important - technology means it looks different but it is important and we should cultivate it. After reading Ed Conway’s books and Ha Joon Chang, I did change my mind on that.
I have two "jungle drawers": one is for very low rate utilised kitchen implements (melon baller, anyone?); t'other is the electrical jungle tangle (will I ever need a charger cable with big old USB-A both ends again? ... I just might ...)
As much as I agree with most of this article I have to say that competence is not appointing Anas Sarwar as a minister by making him a Lord. He is a laughing stock in Scotland and could harm Burnham.
Sarwar led Labour in Scotland to their worst ever result in a Holyrood election and has been rewarded for failure - after saying he had no interest in the Lords and wanted it abolished.
The real change we want in Scotland will not be delivered by Andy Burnham.
Observing the stupid daily attacks on Burnham by BBC News this week, I did feel it was great to actually have a seasoned ambitious politician with a vision who at least has an understanding of the skills required to address/rebut/ignore as appropriate.
Cannot wait for his first Kuenssberg, when he does not do the Corbyn passive aggressive "may I finish?" he does the Burnham blunt "you are Just Plain Wrong"
Nice article, gave me hope. And I will, as you asked, f off just as soon as I've flagged "It is the government equivalent of that draw in your house with all the old adaptors and USB cables." 'draw' should be 'drawer' I believe.
Argh good point
He has managed to alienate many voters by his attempt at ‘slickness’.
His trumpeted initiatives have been revealed as rehashed measures or ones that will make very little difference to anyone.
He has used the government plane jet twice at a cost of £30,000 per trip to the taxpayer at a time when the NHS cannot afford to treat those in pain, at a time when hospital beds are being cut due to shortage of money.
Man of the people?
Better the devil you know I say or as my kiddo says Six Sevens
CabOff was the model for Yes Minister "Department of Departmental Affairs"
Pedant alert - 'Administrative Affairs' if I remember rightly 🙂
🩶👍🏻
The perils of dictation software. I know it well...
I agree that it is a refreshing change to have a PM who is clear about his vision and has a coherent and well communicated plan to put it in place.
This week for me though has been tarnished by Burnhams decision to fund his bus fare policy in large part by cutting the climate adaptation part of the already diminished foreign aid budget. This is a big red line for me and just smacks of someone taking the convenient and popular option rather than the right one.
Yes I know that that this money will still go to climate adaptation initiatives in the form of loans rather than grants, but this has the effect of putting poorer countries in debt and risks excluding the very poorest nations who have little chance of repaying. This will affect some of the poorest communities worldwide who are the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Is a £1 reduction in bus fare really worth this cost?
As someone who used to work for a government inquiry led by the clueless Cabinet office I have never agreed with a sentence from you more than this ‘Cabinet Office, which is a kind of management swamp, with no clear function, stuffed to the gills with all the different functions which didn’t fit in a specific department. It is the government equivalent of that drawer in your house” I’m encouraged by Burnham he has policy he has drive, charisma and passion - I’m disheartened by some of the terrible cabinet choices namely Mamood staying in the home office and my hero Lord Timpson removed from the Prison service. Its early days but the difference between the hapless policy absent Starmer is already un-mistakable. It will be an interesting time.
I think telling Mahmood to stay put and sort out the mess of her making is a Cunning Plan.
I empathise with my hero Lord Alf
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/jun/26/remove-home-secretary-shabana-mahmood-and-rip-up-her-asylum-plans-says-alf-dubs
But, if she fails, exit stage left pursued by bears. Secondly, who else would want the role?
As for Lord T: "removed"?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvg0xlrvv4mo
Also do try and switch off - the curse of the freelancer I remember it well.
As you say a low bar, but this does provide hope! Will he be radical on Constitutional Reform, Social Care and a Land Value Tax I wonder?
Thanks for keeping the hope alive Ian and for making me laugh ..this week’s highlight is the vivid metaphor of Truss chewing the carpet! 🤣🤣🤣
Great piece, made me smile from cheek to cheek, thanks. The only thing I’d add is that he’s also got a much-needed anthem to cheer us up: https://youtu.be/mfI1S0PKJR8?is=grOPldXz1mWTFTuj
(I think you’ve been unduly harsh on Keir Starmer both politically (in terms of the dung hills that he had to shift for Labour and for the country) and as a human being, but that’s another story).
OK, I'm calling: too early to say.
When he stops the USA using UK air-bases to bomb Iran, and does something about the genocide in Gaza, I'll concede he's a man of good character and moral standing. It would be nice to have a PM with those attributes.
And... I have to pick you up on this: "most of the country, work in white collar jobs. We are a services economy. It is good to be a services economy. It is nice that people can make money in nice, clean, safe jobs." You can't equate "service economy" with "white collar... nice, clean, safe jobs". Ask nurses, the care home sector, emergency services, pub & restaurant staff, if they have nice, clean, safe, white-collar jobs.
Judge people by their actions. He has failed to show any independent thought, still pleasing others, so he can’t have honesty or integrity or humanity.
Keep On Trollin'
I think it's way too early to judge. And way too early to be lavishing praise, such as: "professional political operation". Whatever happens, he/Labour won't be getting my vote.
#VoteGreen
An interesting read and an important point that a coherent strategy to tackle the big issues is vital. Number 10 absolutely needs more economic thinking so it doesn't just become constrained by the orthodoxy of the treasury. To create new economic outcomes requires structural changes in who our economy serves. For example, the balance of power between the central bank and government (who does the current institutional arrangement benefit?) and fiscal devolution (is it possible to take devolution a step further into currency devolution?). Will the changes in the structure of number 10 allow for the serious discussion of these topics without the treasury orthodoxy reinforcing the current status quo?
Currency devolution? Help me understand
Essentially, I mean community/complementary currency. I explain in this post. https://luisrodrigues1.substack.com/p/when-one-size-doesnt-fit-all-interest?r=2scozs&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Ah, professionalism, how we have missed thee. There will be some who are old enough to vote but too young to know what that looks like. I think the industrialisation point is well meaning but flawed, Ian. An industrial base is important - technology means it looks different but it is important and we should cultivate it. After reading Ed Conway’s books and Ha Joon Chang, I did change my mind on that.
My husband, John Heath, was Professor of Economics at the London Business School, Regents Park.
He was in charge of the MBA & Sloan Programmes.
He always said that what went wrong in UK was when Thatcher believed that Privatisation of all the industries in England, was good economics.
John was on the board of British Rail & wrote a huge report saying why they should not privatise British Rail.
Anyway - John died in 2016, but he was so right about privatisation.
It is refreshing & good that Burnham has made this salient point about the economic policies in UK.
Thatcher's policies have been a disaster for the country in every way!!!
It’s called ‘the everything drawer’ I believe. I have three.
I have two "jungle drawers": one is for very low rate utilised kitchen implements (melon baller, anyone?); t'other is the electrical jungle tangle (will I ever need a charger cable with big old USB-A both ends again? ... I just might ...)
It’s the first time I’ve felt a glimmer of hope about the future of governance since…tbh…I don’t know when?
Great book! There is also a good adaptation on Disney+ of Fleishman with a great cast.
Enjoy the holiday and thanks for the hope!
As much as I agree with most of this article I have to say that competence is not appointing Anas Sarwar as a minister by making him a Lord. He is a laughing stock in Scotland and could harm Burnham.
Sarwar led Labour in Scotland to their worst ever result in a Holyrood election and has been rewarded for failure - after saying he had no interest in the Lords and wanted it abolished.
The real change we want in Scotland will not be delivered by Andy Burnham.
Observing the stupid daily attacks on Burnham by BBC News this week, I did feel it was great to actually have a seasoned ambitious politician with a vision who at least has an understanding of the skills required to address/rebut/ignore as appropriate.
Fingers crossed.
Cannot wait for his first Kuenssberg, when he does not do the Corbyn passive aggressive "may I finish?" he does the Burnham blunt "you are Just Plain Wrong"
There is a bad smell around the Burnham project irrespective of the vibes
For the first time in years I actually feel a little bit of hope about this country 🤞🏻🤞🏻
Thanks for the hopeful outlook! that's what is needed, hope and good government.