The #NewStatesman magazine has for ~30 years been firmly #Blairite. But it's still useful for observers of that tribe.
A few weeks ago, NS editor Tom McTague joined the #Starmer-must-go camp. Now the NS podcast team tiptoes reverentially sround Andy #Burnham in #Makerfield. https://youtu.be/F9mJJslST9k
Like polite agnostics in a church, they don't quite accept Burnham as the messiah, but they don't reject him. They carefully avoid offence to his disciples. Bets are hedged.
#AndyBurnham does NOT support #ProportionalRepresentation #PR. 😡
Burnham supports #SupplementaryVote, also known as #AlternativeVote #AV, which is NOT a proportional system
And he will NOT scrap the current #FirstPastThePost #FPTP before the next general election #GE2029. So #ReformUK could win a huge overall majority on 30% of votes.
That makes a vote for #Burnham pointiess. He's a #Blairite who won't even introduce fair votes. 😡
There's no point to Burnham. Reject him, #Makerfield!
When you have to rely on arch #Blairite Liz Kendall to defend you in public then you really are in trouble. One of the most excruciating interviews ever with one of the most pointless ministers.
Act 2 of the Muppet Show, aka #AnyoneButStarmer panic.
Act 1 was a failed return attempt by #AndyBurnham, a reheated #Blairite and twice-failed leadership candidate who quit, to be an okay mayor. Convinced that he'd finally grasped national politics, his return was blocked 'cos the next mayor would be #ReformUK.
Act 2 is open manoeuvres by #AngelaRayner, the loyal deputy to 5½ years of #Starmer / #McSweeney rightwingery.
If the #LabourParty has a future, it's not with these muppets.
Christie Elan-Cane
Hublai (charismatic megafauna)
Claire McNab