Andy Burnham has already demonstrated that he is an insincere career politician who hasn’t got any real ideas for change. Already we have witnessed backward tracking on EU membership, a reinforcement of the same fiscal policies that we currently have and very vague outlining of watered down notions of public ownership amounting to just tougher regulations.
In my opinion Burnham has just shot himself in the foot before he has even drawn his pistol. He has shown a complete lack of understanding about the community which he supposedly wants to represent. A community who previously voted leave in the Brexit Referendum. Maybe he chose Makefield out of complete desperation without considering that he may be a bad fit for that area. A complete mismatch where he has had to drop so many of his own ideals and standards. Well that doesn’t show very good judgment.
Burnham lacks convictions on principles he once championed
So already we see a conflict of interest and a degree of insincerity. He realised that to get elected he has had to drop or hide his beliefs and convictions matters that he has previously championed and which he has now shelved. He now withdraws hos support for another refe on rejoining the EU. Dropping his position on rejoining the EU shows that he lacks convictions on matters and principles that he actually believes in. At least Wes Streeting has stood up and stood by what he believes in. So already Andy Burnham has exposed himself as an insincere career politician who lacks convictions and who is willing to adopt the behaviour that he criticises in others, when it suits his needs. His ideas already seem weak, vague, duplicitous and ineffectual. He seems to believe that just a change in figurehead/ personality is going to be enough to win a battle with Farage’s Reform. Well it isn’t and Burnham is going to have to do much much better.
All in all this is a poor start for Burnham. Burham doesn’t seem to have many ideas in relation to a change in direction only in terms of a change of leadership to suit his own ambitions.