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Let’s Talk Election Security – part 1 of 3 – politicalbetting.com

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  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 59,270
    You know, I am starting to suspect that those claiming Trump won in 2020 are delusional or dishonest. Or both.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 72,866
    "My generation of politicians, including me, have failed" - Andy B
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 137,335
    Burnham starts with an attack on Westminster, almost in the same vein as the SNP and Plaid and SF would say. Then blames current politicians for not making lives and living standards better.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 81,231
    edited 10:42AM
    Trying to work out the NZ sub situation - How is Zak Foulkes coming on to replace Will O'Rourke if he is already in the bowling column ?
  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 72,535
    edited 10:45AM
    HYUFD said:

    Burnham starts with an attack on Westminster, almost in the same vein as the SNP and Plaid and SF would say. Then blames current politicians for not making lives and living standards better.

    And he is spot on at last a politician for the future
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 137,335

    This speech says everything about how collegiate Burnham is and he is so different

    I wish him well

    He speaks well but is otherwise a tax and spend leftist populist
  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 72,535
    HYUFD said:

    This speech says everything about how collegiate Burnham is and he is so different

    I wish him well

    He speaks well but is otherwise a tax and spend leftist populist
    You are seeing the start of a revolution- end of whips apparently
  • RochdalePioneersRochdalePioneers Posts: 32,419
    That Andy Burnham agenda in full:

    London to be renamed MancLondon
    Ties to be abolished
    Tax on southerners
  • FeersumEnjineeyaFeersumEnjineeya Posts: 5,365
    HYUFD said:

    Dopermean said:

    HYUFD said:

    Married women without passports would be more likely to be Republican than single women, as Pulpstar states 52% of married women voted for Trump in 2024 and more likely to live in Middle America and less likely to be on the West coast or in the North East where more travel abroad and have passports. So requiring birth certificates or passports as voter ID may not necessarily help the GOP

    Is this an endemic issue of coercion by the head of household?
    AIUI this can be rife in traditional misogynistic patriarchal cultures.
    No, married women are normally more conservative than single women
    Dopermean's comment was clearly tongue-in-cheek. He's drawing a comparison with claims by Reform supporters that Muslim women are directed which way to vote by their husbands and fathers.
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 37,557
    HYUFD said:

    This speech says everything about how collegiate Burnham is and he is so different

    I wish him well

    He speaks well but is otherwise a tax and spend leftist populist
    Sounds like a good idea, especially when one includes among the "rich' big companies such as those exploiting our water supply.
  • eekeek Posts: 34,280
    HYUFD said:

    Burnham starts with an attack on Westminster, almost in the same vein as the SNP and Plaid and SF would say. Then blames current politicians for not making lives and living standards better.

    Well he's not wrong there - our living standards are deteriorating especially if you compare it to other parts of Europe.

    Outside of the wealthy South East we have some of the poorest geographical areas outside the poorest parts of Eastern Europe...
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 72,866
    "The imbalance between local and central government is holding back growth" - Andy B
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 72,866
    "The imbalance between local and central government is holding back growth" - Andy B
  • RochdalePioneersRochdalePioneers Posts: 32,419
    Andy is a secret LibDem
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 137,335
    edited 10:52AM
    Burnham says he rejects the 'old trickle down model' (ie Reagan economics and Thatcherism) in favour of growth spread around
  • noneoftheabovenoneoftheabove Posts: 28,223

    That Andy Burnham agenda in full:

    London to be renamed MancLondon
    Ties to be abolished
    Tax on southerners

    What happens to those who refuse to accept ties are over? Will their penalty be a shootout?
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 62,198

    This speech says everything about how collegiate Burnham is and he is so different

    I wish him well

    But no questions, and seemingly no interviews planned.

    Most politicans can make a good speech, it’s when their ideas are challenged and solutions to problems are proposed, that most of them struggle.

    If he has any sense, he really should agree to sit down for half an hour with, if not Andrew Neil or Stephen Sackur, at least someone prepared to give him a hard time.
  • StillWatersStillWaters Posts: 13,580
    I hadn’t realised that Georgia had completed their review and found a nothing-burger. Thanks for that nugget.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 72,866
    Good growth in every uk postcode.
  • StillWatersStillWaters Posts: 13,580
    Pulpstar said:

    eek said:

    How likely is a married woman going to vote for Trump / the Republican Party

    Factor that in and a plan that “accidentally” disenfranchises married women makes a lot of sense

    2024 results (Women)

    Married: Trump 52% Harris 47%
    Unmarried: Trump 38% Harris 61%
    Is that controlled for age?

    Or is it that unmarried women are likely one more exercised by Rode v Wade?
  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 26,348
    He's promising everything to everyone

    Awkward
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 72,866
    New PM's office to be based in Manch
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 137,335
    No 10 North will be based in Manchester apparently and further devolution promised across the UK
  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 72,535
    An extended PM Ofice based here in Manchester and nerve centre of a rewired Britain
  • BlancheLivermoreBlancheLivermore Posts: 8,009
    He’s got all of the slogans for government
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 59,270

    "My generation of politicians, including me, have failed" - Andy B

    He’s resigned already??
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 60,266
    "Number 10 North will be the nerve centre of a rewired Britain."
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 72,866
    Sandpit said:

    This speech says everything about how collegiate Burnham is and he is so different

    I wish him well

    But no questions, and seemingly no interviews planned.

    Most politicans can make a good speech, it’s when their ideas are challenged and solutions to problems are proposed, that most of them struggle.

    If he has any sense, he really should agree to sit down for half an hour with, if not Andrew Neil or Stephen Sackur, at least someone prepared to give him a hard time.
    Burnham is right on to take questions at this point. Give the speech and let the journos actually report on the speech and not report on their stupid attempts at gotcha questions.

    e.g. if he opened it up after the speech today every question would be 'who will be CoE?'
  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 26,348
    So he's now declared war on Whitehall and the Treasury

    That should go well
  • StillWatersStillWaters Posts: 13,580
    Roger said:

    Kemi is bloody awful! If you've got nothing to say - say nothing. This is surreal. She's holding a press conference to a Tory audience but all we are seeing is her. It feels like one of those old fashioned programmes with canned laughter and added cheering.

    The classy thing to do is give Burnham his moment and if she's got something relevant to say that's the time to say it.

    Why should she give her principal opponent time to define himself? Surely better to strike now while he is hiding out?
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 137,335

    HYUFD said:

    This speech says everything about how collegiate Burnham is and he is so different

    I wish him well

    He speaks well but is otherwise a tax and spend leftist populist
    You are seeing the start of a revolution- end of whips apparently
    Until he needs to get a close vote through
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 72,866
    HYUFD said:

    HYUFD said:

    This speech says everything about how collegiate Burnham is and he is so different

    I wish him well

    He speaks well but is otherwise a tax and spend leftist populist
    You are seeing the start of a revolution- end of whips apparently
    Until he needs to get a close vote through
    I expect the whips idea will be quietly dropped in a few months.
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 37,557

    "Number 10 North will be the nerve centre of a rewired Britain."

    How ell will that go down in Newcastle (on Tyne)?
  • LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 24,660
    edited 11:02AM

    "Number 10 North will be the nerve centre of a rewired Britain."

    Number 10 North has the air of a Siberian gulag for civil servants. If the PM isn't there it might as well be on the moon.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 72,866

    So he's now declared war on Whitehall and the Treasury

    That should go well

    Maybe he can achieve what Wilson failed to achieve on the Treasury.
  • GallowgateGallowgate Posts: 22,161
    I hope he doesn’t focus too much on Manchester
  • boulayboulay Posts: 9,121

    That Andy Burnham agenda in full:

    London to be renamed MancLondon
    Ties to be abolished
    Tax on southerners

    God, Whitehall is going to be like that episode of Kevin and Perry where Perry goes to Manchester and everyone will be walking around with ridiculous Manc accents and wearing bucket hats.
  • RogerRoger Posts: 23,200

    He's promising everything to everyone

    Awkward

    He's likable and I like his enthusiasm. As an honorary Mancunian you should be liking it. The new Vice Chancellor waxed lyrical about him on radio 4 this morning

    It's not his fault Kemi chose to answer his speech before he'd made it.
  • RochdalePioneersRochdalePioneers Posts: 32,419
    "Sovereign manufacturing" - with a long list of areas where we need to Take Back Control. Top man.
  • squareroot2squareroot2 Posts: 7,992
    The two faces of Bridget Phillipson?. Stop.people making money out of council houses whilst selling the family council house?
  • RochdalePioneersRochdalePioneers Posts: 32,419
    In other news, I *guarantee* that HS2 north will be built. At pace. Likely starting shortly from the north southwards.
  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 26,348
    Roger said:

    He's promising everything to everyone

    Awkward

    He's likable and I like his enthusiasm. As an honorary Mancunian you should be liking it. The new Vice Chancellor waxed lyrical about him on radio 4 this morning

    It's not his fault Kemi chose to answer his speech before he'd made it.
    It's motherhood and apple pir. Lots of things to like but it's not really telling us much.
  • MortimerMortimer Posts: 14,530

    So he's now declared war on Whitehall and the Treasury

    That should go well

    Lol, he won't last the year at this rate!
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 81,231
    edited 11:05AM

    Pulpstar said:

    eek said:

    How likely is a married woman going to vote for Trump / the Republican Party

    Factor that in and a plan that “accidentally” disenfranchises married women makes a lot of sense

    2024 results (Women)

    Married: Trump 52% Harris 47%
    Unmarried: Trump 38% Harris 61%
    Is that controlled for age?

    Or is it that unmarried women are likely one more exercised by Rode v Wade?
    It's the actual split as per the https://edition.cnn.com/election/2024/exit-polls/national-results/general/president/0 CNN exit poll

    It does tally back to the actual results as can be calculated from the Men 47%, Women 53% split

    Men 55% Trump
    Women 45% Trump
    =49.7% Trump

    Men 43% Harris
    Women 53% Harris
    =48.3% Harris

    Which matches the actual result.

    My guess is older women are more likely to be married compared to single women, but that doesn't matter if you're trying to guess the actions of married women because it is implicitly baked in.
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 137,335
    Burnham promises biggest council house building programme since the post war period
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 72,866
    Biggest council house build since the post-war period
  • MattWMattW Posts: 33,806
    edited 11:08AM
    I think one challenge will be how to build devolved capacity quickly and effectively.

    He's going to need his 10 (or at least 7-8) years, which means rapid delivery of some things to win the next election.

    Prediction: a recreation of something like the Polytechnics, or a similar focus.
  • squareroot2squareroot2 Posts: 7,992

    Roger said:

    Kemi is bloody awful! If you've got nothing to say - say nothing. This is surreal. She's holding a press conference to a Tory audience but all we are seeing is her. It feels like one of those old fashioned programmes with canned laughter and added cheering.

    The classy thing to do is give Burnham his moment and if she's got something relevant to say that's the time to say it.

    Why should she give her principal opponent time to define himself? Surely better to strike now while he is hiding out?
    Sir John Major is full of praise for her.
  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 26,348
    HYUFD said:

    Burnham promises biggest council house building programme since the post war period

    HYUFD said:

    Burnham promises biggest council house building programme since the post war period

    Excellent, but theres not enough people to build them
  • LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 24,660

    In other news, I *guarantee* that HS2 north will be built. At pace. Likely starting shortly from the north southwards.

    Hasn't some of the land needed for it been sold already?
  • DavidLDavidL Posts: 59,270

    Good growth in every uk postcode.

    Does that mean I get a wage increase?
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 72,866

    In other news, I *guarantee* that HS2 north will be built. At pace. Likely starting shortly from the north southwards.

    Would make sense to restart this - hugely symbolic that a new administration has arrived.
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 90,342
    edited 11:10AM

    Roger said:

    He's promising everything to everyone

    Awkward

    He's likable and I like his enthusiasm. As an honorary Mancunian you should be liking it. The new Vice Chancellor waxed lyrical about him on radio 4 this morning

    It's not his fault Kemi chose to answer his speech before he'd made it.
    It's motherhood and apple pir. Lots of things to like but it's not really telling us much.
    Let's see who he makes Chancellor.
    That will tell us quite a lot.

    But otherwise the aspirations - and they are no more than that for now - at least take aim in the right direction.
    The emphasis on getting stuff done is almost encouraging.

    (What is apple pir ?
    A Mancunian delicacy ?)
  • LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 24,660
    MattW said:

    I think one challenge will be how to build devolved capacity quickly and effectively.

    He's going to need his 10 (or at least 7-8) years, which means rapid delivery of some things to win the next election.

    Prediction: a recreation of something like the Polytechnics, or a similar focus.

    The biggest challenge will be letting go of power to see it exercised by Reform politicians.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 72,866
    Risky. Putting a lot of emphasis on renewing the High Streets in towns and cities.

    But a good part of the decline is online shopping and deliveries. How can that be reversed?
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 90,342

    Roger said:

    Kemi is bloody awful! If you've got nothing to say - say nothing. This is surreal. She's holding a press conference to a Tory audience but all we are seeing is her. It feels like one of those old fashioned programmes with canned laughter and added cheering.

    The classy thing to do is give Burnham his moment and if she's got something relevant to say that's the time to say it.

    Why should she give her principal opponent time to define himself? Surely better to strike now while he is hiding out?
    Sir John Major is full of praise for her.
    So she has one vote in the bag.
  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 26,348

    Risky. Putting a lot of emphasis on renewing the High Streets in towns and cities.

    But a good part of the decline is online shopping and deliveries. How can that be reversed?

    tax Amazon properly

    Then watch Gen Z cry
  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 72,535
    Nigelb said:

    Roger said:

    Kemi is bloody awful! If you've got nothing to say - say nothing. This is surreal. She's holding a press conference to a Tory audience but all we are seeing is her. It feels like one of those old fashioned programmes with canned laughter and added cheering.

    The classy thing to do is give Burnham his moment and if she's got something relevant to say that's the time to say it.

    Why should she give her principal opponent time to define himself? Surely better to strike now while he is hiding out?
    Sir John Major is full of praise for her.
    So she has one vote in the bag.
    2 -she has mine !!!!!
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 60,266
    "Imagine good growth in every postcode and hope in every heart."
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 137,335
    edited 11:13AM
    Lots of vision but only new policies I could see from Burnham were new council homes, No 10 North and no whipping and some more apprenticeships
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 81,231
    Just imagine if Gus Atkinson bats out the day !
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 72,866
    Well, one can only wish him well. He's the PM for the next three years and has massive responsibilities on his dark blue shoulders.

  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 26,348
    Nigelb said:

    Roger said:

    He's promising everything to everyone

    Awkward

    He's likable and I like his enthusiasm. As an honorary Mancunian you should be liking it. The new Vice Chancellor waxed lyrical about him on radio 4 this morning

    It's not his fault Kemi chose to answer his speech before he'd made it.
    It's motherhood and apple pir. Lots of things to like but it's not really telling us much.
    Let's see who he makes Chancellor.
    That will tell us quite a lot.

    But otherwise the aspirations - and they are no more than that for now - at least take aim in the right direction.
    The emphasis on getting stuff done is almost encouraging.

    (What is apple pir ?
    A Mancunian delicacy ?)
    Nothing wrong in what he's saying but he has avoided all the hard stuff. This is what he should be saying before an election it will look a bit worn in 3 years time as he has to make the hard trade offs
  • MattWMattW Posts: 33,806

    MattW said:

    I think one challenge will be how to build devolved capacity quickly and effectively.

    He's going to need his 10 (or at least 7-8) years, which means rapid delivery of some things to win the next election.

    Prediction: a recreation of something like the Polytechnics, or a similar focus.

    The biggest challenge will be letting go of power to see it exercised by Reform politicians.
    And linked to that finding a way to get Reform politicians to look forward and upward, rather than backwards and downwards.
  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 72,535
    HYUFD said:

    Lots of vision but only new policies I could see from Burnham were new council homes, No 10 North and no whipping and some more apprenticeships

    Maybe the king will have a have a home in Manchester
  • TazTaz Posts: 28,969

    HYUFD said:

    Penelope Keith has died.

    She had a good life and always looked to the manor born in roles.

    RIP
    Yes and lived a Good Life, RIP
    She was my favourite comedienne and actress. The Good Life was my favourite programme of all time. She will be sadly missed.
    She was a terrific comic actress and To The Manor Born, although less well remembered was just as big if not bigger.
  • TazTaz Posts: 28,969

    Andy is a secret LibDem

    Not true

    If he was the WASPI women would be getting billions.
  • MattWMattW Posts: 33,806
    edited 11:19AM

    A fascinating speech. It's against so much of what the Labour movement stands for. And he didn't mention the Labour party once. But he did talk up his other party by referring to the Rochdale pioneers who responded to food poverty by starting the Co-operative movement.

    There will be a press visit to the only remaining Temperance Bar - Mr Fitzpatrick’s in Rawtenstall.

    He will feed sarsaparilla to the journos, and instantly lose all their sympathy because they are still sober.
  • RochdalePioneersRochdalePioneers Posts: 32,419
    Taz said:

    Andy is a secret LibDem

    Not true

    If he was the WASPI women would be getting billions.
    Park one policy and look at it in the round.

    Burnham wants a bottom up approach to politics. Building from street level upwards. Place not party, working with anyone and everyone. A blend of the public sector and private enterprise. An aspiration society with social justice at its heart.

    He would fit brilliantly into the LibDems. And At No Point did he even mention the Labour Party
  • NigelbNigelb Posts: 90,342
    edited 11:21AM

    Nigelb said:

    Roger said:

    He's promising everything to everyone

    Awkward

    He's likable and I like his enthusiasm. As an honorary Mancunian you should be liking it. The new Vice Chancellor waxed lyrical about him on radio 4 this morning

    It's not his fault Kemi chose to answer his speech before he'd made it.
    It's motherhood and apple pir. Lots of things to like but it's not really telling us much.
    Let's see who he makes Chancellor.
    That will tell us quite a lot.

    But otherwise the aspirations - and they are no more than that for now - at least take aim in the right direction.
    The emphasis on getting stuff done is almost encouraging.

    (What is apple pir ?
    A Mancunian delicacy ?)
    Nothing wrong in what he's saying but he has avoided all the hard stuff. This is what he should be saying before an election it will look a bit worn in 3 years time as he has to make the hard trade offs
    We'll see.
    I don't think we need wait three years to judge. The state of play (significant improvement over Starmer, or not) ought to be pretty clear by Christmas.

    And in a sense, this is before his election to the office.
  • turbotubbsturbotubbs Posts: 23,613

    Its a good job England bat deep.....

    Over by lunch, pissed by tea, the Bazball way.
    I presume Baz is getting sacked in the morning.
    Not so sure of that.
  • williamglennwilliamglenn Posts: 60,266
    Burnham has learnt from Trump in the way he breaks the fourth wall by commenting on his own speech in the middle of it.
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 91,986
    edited 11:20AM
    DavidL said:

    Good growth in every uk postcode.

    Does that mean I get a wage tax increase?
    Fixed for you...
  • FrancisUrquhartFrancisUrquhart Posts: 91,986
    edited 11:23AM

    Its a good job England bat deep.....

    Over by lunch, pissed by tea, the Bazball way.
    I presume Baz is getting sacked in the morning.
    Not so sure of that.
    The ECB want sacking for not sacking Baz.

    Its a bit like Arsene Wenger in that he revolutionised the game, but by the end everybody had caught on, adapted with specific tactics to nullify his approach and surprassed him him in other areas. England are now behind in every form of the game, even T20, where for 3 years England were without doubt the best side.
  • noneoftheabovenoneoftheabove Posts: 28,223

    Well, one can only wish him well. He's the PM for the next three years and has massive responsibilities on his dark blue shoulders.

    3 years? Good to see he has already brought back some optimism to punditry.
  • noneoftheabovenoneoftheabove Posts: 28,223
    HYUFD said:

    Lots of vision but only new policies I could see from Burnham were new council homes, No 10 North and no whipping and some more apprenticeships

    Council homes and apprenticeships should have been no brainers for a Labour government. Can he make them happen at scale and before a GE though? Unlikely.
  • SandpitSandpit Posts: 62,198
    Pulpstar said:

    Just imagine if Gus Atkinson bats out the day !

    Memories of Monty Panesar in 2009.
  • Big_G_NorthWalesBig_G_NorthWales Posts: 72,535

    A fascinating speech. It's against so much of what the Labour movement stands for. And he didn't mention the Labour party once. But he did talk up his other party by referring to the Rochdale pioneers who responded to food poverty by starting the Co-operative movement.

    He has certainly put down a marker and with interesting ideas

    He needs to choose his COE wisely and his cabinet

    I hope he succeeds, though I expect it will have upset those in the south and London

    The problem he has is just how quickly he can make it happen and for the electorate to feel it
  • HYUFDHYUFD Posts: 137,335
    edited 11:28AM

    HYUFD said:

    Lots of vision but only new policies I could see from Burnham were new council homes, No 10 North and no whipping and some more apprenticeships

    Maybe the king will have a have a home in Manchester
    To be fair to the King he has homes in Scotland, Wales and Norfolk already not just London and the South. I expect he would be fine with a home in rural Cheshire, maybe not inner Manchester which is a bit too much of an industrial revolution city for our traditionalist countryside loving King
  • lintolinto Posts: 55

    "Number 10 North will be the nerve centre of a rewired Britain."

    How ell will that go down in Newcastle (on Tyne)?
    Quite well I would have thought, anything to give London centrism a good kicking is well received. The good ol' North v South dynamic has never gone away, only got worse as the south has concentrated everything to itself.
  • AlanbrookeAlanbrooke Posts: 26,348
    Nigelb said:

    Nigelb said:

    Roger said:

    He's promising everything to everyone

    Awkward

    He's likable and I like his enthusiasm. As an honorary Mancunian you should be liking it. The new Vice Chancellor waxed lyrical about him on radio 4 this morning

    It's not his fault Kemi chose to answer his speech before he'd made it.
    It's motherhood and apple pir. Lots of things to like but it's not really telling us much.
    Let's see who he makes Chancellor.
    That will tell us quite a lot.

    But otherwise the aspirations - and they are no more than that for now - at least take aim in the right direction.
    The emphasis on getting stuff done is almost encouraging.

    (What is apple pir ?
    A Mancunian delicacy ?)
    Nothing wrong in what he's saying but he has avoided all the hard stuff. This is what he should be saying before an election it will look a bit worn in 3 years time as he has to make the hard trade offs
    We'll see.
    I don't think we need wait three years to judge. The state of play (significant improvement over Starmer, or not) ought to be pretty clear by Christmas.

    And in a sense, this is before his election to the office.
    Except in 3 years time he will have had to piss some people off, will find plans never go to plan and we'll be in a position to judge just how well he performs. Reminded me a bit of the New Labour play.
  • LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 24,660

    Risky. Putting a lot of emphasis on renewing the High Streets in towns and cities.

    But a good part of the decline is online shopping and deliveries. How can that be reversed?

    If you were to shut down the out of town shopping centres you would force the remaining physical retail back onto high streets (but the out of town shopping centres are popular because they're easy to park at).

    If you're ruthless about converting a large amount of the excess commercial space around high streets back into residential, you can bring more people into high street areas, and I suppose you might do something to create cultural spaces in those areas so that they are more of a general purpose leisure focus for an area, rather than a retail centre (but that requires quite a lot of investment for uncertain return).

    Someone does need to find a way to manage the change to these areas, rather than simply leaving lots of empty commercial property as an obvious visual indicator of decay.
  • Jim_MillerJim_Miller Posts: 3,929
    Off topic, but of interest to an important group:

    Physicists will like Friday’s xkcd: https://xkcd.com/3264/
  • RattersRatters Posts: 2,065
    Part of politics is narrative. Part is policy. And part is execution.

    Starmer never even seemed to grasp that narrative was an important first step, beyond 'not the Tories". And that is part of the reason he became so unpopular.

    Burnham clearly has a more coherent vision. And is a positive one: not reactive to the agenda Reform are setting.

    Whether or not the policy detail or execution are up to scratch obviously remains to be seen...
  • LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 24,660

    HYUFD said:

    Lots of vision but only new policies I could see from Burnham were new council homes, No 10 North and no whipping and some more apprenticeships

    Council homes and apprenticeships should have been no brainers for a Labour government. Can he make them happen at scale and before a GE though? Unlikely.
    This is a problem for Burnham. Starmer wasted two years, and I don't know who the capable cabinet ministers would be who can implement policy rapidly, given how poorly so many did in Starmer's cabinet.
  • algarkirkalgarkirk Posts: 17,623

    Taz said:

    Andy is a secret LibDem

    Not true

    If he was the WASPI women would be getting billions.
    Park one policy and look at it in the round.

    Burnham wants a bottom up approach to politics. Building from street level upwards. Place not party, working with anyone and everyone. A blend of the public sector and private enterprise. An aspiration society with social justice at its heart.

    He would fit brilliantly into the LibDems. And At No Point did he even mention the Labour Party
    He was extremely careful to attack no party by name, and to namecheck the Tories in one small respect - about training places - which was affirmative.

    it sounds impossible but could be be in the process of trying to civilise public discourse a bit?

    (By the way, those who believe everything about personality types and its consequences is bogus hokum might like just to check out the basic differences between Starmer - probably ISTJ in the MBTI formula; and Burnham - probably ENFJ in the MBTI formula. Everything is laid out with startling clarity!)
  • turbotubbsturbotubbs Posts: 23,613
    Pulpstar said:

    Just imagine if Gus Atkinson bats out the day !

    That kind of comment is banned on PB unless you are a secret Kiwi.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 72,866

    (((Dan Hodges)))
    @DPJHodges
    ·
    14m
    Going to be a lot of policy and textual analysis of Andy Burnham's speech. But all that really matters at the moment is that he looks a bit different and sounds a bit different. And that should be enough to get him a hearing from the British public. Which is what he needs.

    https://x.com/DPJHodges/status/2071553912893526362
  • MalmesburyMalmesbury Posts: 64,005

    In other news, I *guarantee* that HS2 north will be built. At pace. Likely starting shortly from the north southwards.

    Hasn't some of the land needed for it been sold already?
    There is a law on the books allowing for compulsory purchase of land, without planning uplift, if the SoS seems that the project is public interest.
  • rottenboroughrottenborough Posts: 72,866
    Order Order: Reform has announced its leader on Manchester City Council Sian Astley as the party’s candidate for the Manchester mayoral election
  • OldKingColeOldKingCole Posts: 37,557
    linto said:

    "Number 10 North will be the nerve centre of a rewired Britain."

    How ell will that go down in Newcastle (on Tyne)?
    Quite well I would have thought, anything to give London centrism a good kicking is well received. The good ol' North v South dynamic has never gone away, only got worse as the south has concentrated everything to itself.
    It's a long, long time since I lived in the North East but IIRC Manchester was regarded as part of the South.
  • ManchesterKurtManchesterKurt Posts: 1,027

    In other news, I *guarantee* that HS2 north will be built. At pace. Likely starting shortly from the north southwards.

    Hasn't some of the land needed for it been sold already?
    There is a law on the books allowing for compulsory purchase of land, without planning uplift, if the SoS seems that the project is public interest.
    The Western leg remains protected and nothing has been re-sold.
  • LostPasswordLostPassword Posts: 24,660
    HYUFD said:

    HYUFD said:

    Lots of vision but only new policies I could see from Burnham were new council homes, No 10 North and no whipping and some more apprenticeships

    Maybe the king will have a have a home in Manchester
    To be fair to the King he has homes in Scotland, Wales and Norfolk already not just London and the South. I expect he would be fine with a home in rural Cheshire, maybe not inner Manchester which is a bit too much of an industrial revolution city for our traditionalist countryside loving King
    I'm struggling to think where the nearest historic royal castle to Manchester would be.

    I could imagine the King being delighted to have the opportunity to restore a castle back into use.
  • FairlieredFairliered Posts: 8,202

    Nigelb said:

    Nigelb said:

    Roger said:

    He's promising everything to everyone

    Awkward

    He's likable and I like his enthusiasm. As an honorary Mancunian you should be liking it. The new Vice Chancellor waxed lyrical about him on radio 4 this morning

    It's not his fault Kemi chose to answer his speech before he'd made it.
    It's motherhood and apple pir. Lots of things to like but it's not really telling us much.
    Let's see who he makes Chancellor.
    That will tell us quite a lot.

    But otherwise the aspirations - and they are no more than that for now - at least take aim in the right direction.
    The emphasis on getting stuff done is almost encouraging.

    (What is apple pir ?
    A Mancunian delicacy ?)
    Nothing wrong in what he's saying but he has avoided all the hard stuff. This is what he should be saying before an election it will look a bit worn in 3 years time as he has to make the hard trade offs
    We'll see.
    I don't think we need wait three years to judge. The state of play (significant improvement over Starmer, or not) ought to be pretty clear by Christmas.

    And in a sense, this is before his election to the office.
    Except in 3 years time he will have had to piss some people off, will find plans never go to plan and we'll be in a position to judge just how well he performs. Reminded me a bit of the New Labour play.
    Oh Alan. You’re going to be so disappointed if he succeeds.
  • pm215pm215 Posts: 1,445

    Nigelb said:

    Nigelb said:

    Roger said:

    He's promising everything to everyone

    Awkward

    He's likable and I like his enthusiasm. As an honorary Mancunian you should be liking it. The new Vice Chancellor waxed lyrical about him on radio 4 this morning

    It's not his fault Kemi chose to answer his speech before he'd made it.
    It's motherhood and apple pir. Lots of things to like but it's not really telling us much.
    Let's see who he makes Chancellor.
    That will tell us quite a lot.

    But otherwise the aspirations - and they are no more than that for now - at least take aim in the right direction.
    The emphasis on getting stuff done is almost encouraging.

    (What is apple pir ?
    A Mancunian delicacy ?)
    Nothing wrong in what he's saying but he has avoided all the hard stuff. This is what he should be saying before an election it will look a bit worn in 3 years time as he has to make the hard trade offs
    We'll see.
    I don't think we need wait three years to judge. The state of play (significant improvement over Starmer, or not) ought to be pretty clear by Christmas.

    And in a sense, this is before his election to the office.
    Except in 3 years time he will have had to piss some people off, will find plans never go to plan and we'll be in a position to judge just how well he performs. Reminded me a bit of the New Labour play.
    I expect that if Burnham manages electoral results in three years on a par with New Labour's results after their first term in office he'll be pretty happy with that.
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