Fulham. Also known for its run down ghettos
The only place in England safe enough to erect a giant Michael Jackson statue outside a stadium
Election 2024
- Thread starter brb
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The only place in England safe enough to erect a giant Michael Jackson statue outside a stadium
Only in your demented half life is that something posted as true because it never happened, BUT if the Tories had pulled that trick all you looney lefties would have been in total meltdown
That is true
I think it usually happens with all of the opposition leaders before a GE, so that they are prepped should they win.
There's all sorts of security detail, covert intelligence, ongoing negotiations etc going on in the background that anybody coming into the PM job needs to be made aware of.
Yeah, after I posted it I kinda thought about it and thought "well, obviously opposition before GEs get access"
but I suppose it's unprecedented for internal party rivals to get access before a leadership race has even begun. I presume Burnham won't be challenged.
not sure that is correct though opposition leaders getting personal briefings on matters of national security does sometimes happen
Those jamjar specs Burnham wears are a bit of a worry tbf... MI6 to install much bigger buttons ...
The US trusted Trump with a big red button
I reckon we could elect Mr Blobby and be doing better
Yeah but they didn't tell him it only switches on the Dolce Gusto ...
We did, he has just resigned and Del Boy Junior (Damien) is about to take over
Yes, Andy Burnham has been involved in several notable controversies throughout his political career, spanning his time as a Westminster Cabinet minister, a Labour leadership contender, and the Mayor of Greater Manchester. [1, 2, 3, 4]
His critics frequently point to a mix of policy decisions, handling of local policing scandals, and accusations of political opportunism. [1, 2, 3]
Greater Manchester Grooming Gangs and Local Reviews [1]
Burnham has faced severe criticism over his administration's handling of child sexual exploitation (CSE) scandals in Greater Manchester. Critics, including political opponents and survivor advocates, have accused him of resisting calls for a full statutory national inquiry for years, opting instead to commission non-statutory local assurance reviews like those into Operation Augusta. These local processes were labeled by detractors as insufficient and obstructive after key independent reviewers resigned over a lack of access to critical data, leading to angry public confrontations between survivors and the mayor. [1, 2, 3, 4]
The Greater Manchester Clean Air Zone (CAZ)
As Mayor, Burnham faced an intense public backlash over the implementation of a regional Clean Air Zone. The scheme, which was intended to charge highly polluting vehicles, drew immense resistance from local business owners and motorists. Opponents labeled the move a "stealth tax," forcing Burnham to eventually suspend and redesign the policy. Commentators and former government advisors accused him of "political cowardice" for initially backing the policy but backtracking when public pressure intensified. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust Scandal [1]
During his tenure as Health Secretary under Gordon Brown (2009–2010), Burnham inherited and managed the fallout from the Mid Staffordshire hospital scandal, where systemic institutional failures led to significant excess patient deaths. Though Burnham was never personally or officially censured, political rivals heavily criticised him for initially resisting a full public inquiry into the matter, arguing that the Department of Health under his leadership was overly focused on targets rather than patient safety. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Parliamentary Expenses Disclosures
During his time as an MP for Leigh, Burnham drew media scrutiny during the tail end of the parliamentary expenses scandals. Specifically, reports revealed that he had claimed thousands of pounds in taxpayer-funded rental expenses for a flat in London while simultaneously owning another property within walking distance of Westminster. Critics used the arrangement to challenge his "man of the people" image. [1, 2]
Accusations of "Political Chameleonism"
Mainstream media outlets, such as The Telegraph, have frequently accused Burnham of being a political chameleon whose policy stances shift depending on which way the political wind is blowing. Observers point to several notable policy pivots throughout his career: [1]
His critics frequently point to a mix of policy decisions, handling of local policing scandals, and accusations of political opportunism. [1, 2, 3]
Greater Manchester Grooming Gangs and Local Reviews [1]
Burnham has faced severe criticism over his administration's handling of child sexual exploitation (CSE) scandals in Greater Manchester. Critics, including political opponents and survivor advocates, have accused him of resisting calls for a full statutory national inquiry for years, opting instead to commission non-statutory local assurance reviews like those into Operation Augusta. These local processes were labeled by detractors as insufficient and obstructive after key independent reviewers resigned over a lack of access to critical data, leading to angry public confrontations between survivors and the mayor. [1, 2, 3, 4]
The Greater Manchester Clean Air Zone (CAZ)
As Mayor, Burnham faced an intense public backlash over the implementation of a regional Clean Air Zone. The scheme, which was intended to charge highly polluting vehicles, drew immense resistance from local business owners and motorists. Opponents labeled the move a "stealth tax," forcing Burnham to eventually suspend and redesign the policy. Commentators and former government advisors accused him of "political cowardice" for initially backing the policy but backtracking when public pressure intensified. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust Scandal [1]
During his tenure as Health Secretary under Gordon Brown (2009–2010), Burnham inherited and managed the fallout from the Mid Staffordshire hospital scandal, where systemic institutional failures led to significant excess patient deaths. Though Burnham was never personally or officially censured, political rivals heavily criticised him for initially resisting a full public inquiry into the matter, arguing that the Department of Health under his leadership was overly focused on targets rather than patient safety. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
Parliamentary Expenses Disclosures
During his time as an MP for Leigh, Burnham drew media scrutiny during the tail end of the parliamentary expenses scandals. Specifically, reports revealed that he had claimed thousands of pounds in taxpayer-funded rental expenses for a flat in London while simultaneously owning another property within walking distance of Westminster. Critics used the arrangement to challenge his "man of the people" image. [1, 2]
Accusations of "Political Chameleonism"
Mainstream media outlets, such as The Telegraph, have frequently accused Burnham of being a political chameleon whose policy stances shift depending on which way the political wind is blowing. Observers point to several notable policy pivots throughout his career: [1]
- The European Union: He stated a desire to rejoin the EU at a Labour conference, only to pivot weeks later to saying he was not proposing the UK consider rejoining after facing pushback from Eurosceptic northern constituencies. [1]
- WASPI Women Compensation: During leadership maneuvering, he publicly declared that women affected by state pension age changes deserved financial recompense, only for his spokesperson to swiftly roll back the comment a day later to align with tighter fiscal rules. [1, 2, 3]
- Welfare Reform: During his 2015 Labour leadership bid, he famously ordered his MPs to abstain from a controversial Conservative welfare bill, only to state minutes later that Labour could "not simply abstain" on welfare cuts, drawing ire from both the left and right of his party. [1]