Would Burnham make a better PM than Starmer? My thoughts…

Why does Andy Burnham get described as having a “clean slate”? He does not. He has a long political record, and it should be tested like anyone else’s. And I think people are far too quick to dismiss Keir Starmer. His character is deep and real. Seriousness, duty and resilience may not trend well on X, but they matter in government. Charisma is useful. Character is essential.

@JeremyVineOn5 Sorry, you are totally wrong. Burnham is a calculating backstabber. Seeing off Reform in a seat which was Labour to a weak Reform candidate is not the success Burnham and his allies want the rest of us to believe.

@JeremyVineOn5 He's been the best prime minister in decades. Vibes don't make a good pm.

@JeremyVineOn5 I disagree. Starmer won the last GE with a huge majority. For better or for worse the result of a GE must be respected. No singular by-election with some 'Johnny come lately' should be able to shake the will of the people and how they voted at the last General Election.

@JeremyVineOn5 But he’s failed twice at bids for leader of the Labour Party… he’s been out of Westminister for years and you wanna drop Keir who has done a fair amount and raised UKs profile positively on the world stage for someone who most people don’t know.

Burnham certainly has the opportunity to be a better Prime Minister, and potentially to turn things around for Labour. If he truly wanted to cement a legacy for himself and genuinely transform the party though, he needs to come out of the blocks blazing with some bold, sweeping changes. • Take a clear stance on Israel and Palestine by condemning the genocide in Gaza, supporting international law, and accountability. • Oppose further fossil fuel expansion and invest heavily in renewable energy to create jobs, strengthen energy independence, and bring down household bills. • Challenge the far-right narrative on immigration, exposing it for what it is: a smokescreen that distracts from the role of corporate interests, economic inequality, and policies that benefit billionaires at the expense of working people. That would be a programme capable of inspiring people. My fear, is that he won't do any of this, that he'll choose the safety of caution over the risks of real change, and in doing so miss a rare opportunity to offer something genuinely better.

@JeremyVineOn5 Anyone is better than Starmer. But some will fall into same trap, re can’t trust Corbyn, Starmer offers hope. Will Burnham continue to facilitate & enable genocide? I fear yes, isn’t that a redline? Zack only politician on left who has the guts to call it out. Bookmark this tweet

@JeremyVineOn5 My thoughts; no. 😀

@JeremyVineOn5 So winning a by election makes one a reform killer? I do agree that Starmer may have had some doubtful decisions but given what he inherited from the 14 yrs of Tory mismanagement I think he has done a great job.

@JeremyVineOn5 COPYING TORY DRAMAS,OF CHANGING PM WILL SERVE NO ONE IN LABOUR. YES KEIR MADE MISTAKES,HE HAD THE GOOD GRACE TO OWN THEM,APOLOGISE. BURNHAM IS FAR TOO ARROGANT. THAT IS KEIRS SILVER BULLET. HE RELATES TO WORKING CLASS. STABILITY REQUURED NOW. STOP INFIGHTING. LET HIM CARRY ON

@JeremyVineOn5 I don't think there will be much change. Simons who is part of Labour Together has given up his seat for Burnham? What does he get in return? He is the minister who resigned for arranging spying of left wing author Paul Holden. Burnham is very pro Israel too

@JeremyVineOn5 He couldn’t lace Starmer’s boots. Definitely doesn’t have the ability or temperament to be PM.

“The economy is in a better place” WHAT PLANET! As a tradesmen said to me on the doorstep “I’ve never earned more money than I have today. Yet never had less money in my pocket”. Our economy is based on taking money from those who work hard to give to those who are workless. Our country is regressing. Labour and Conservative policies are the reason… Evidence = £3,000,000,000,000 DEBT and growing. 105% of GDP. YOU CALL THIS PROGRESS

@JeremyVineOn5 What you have missed is that the right wing press plus @BBCNews @SkyNews plus the new right wing @guardian are waiting to make @AndyBurnhamGM a flip flop loser and will he be able to cope. Remember he is not quite sure of the fiscal rules. By the way name his dream Cabinet.

@JeremyVineOn5 Yeah, populism over delivery. Works every time….🙄

@JeremyVineOn5 Are you that stupid marina how long till right wing media go for him lots of labour voters don't want backstabber Burnham

@JeremyVineOn5 Burnham has no appeal in London or the Southeast-the two places where the country's highest GDP is generated. Burnham keeps harping on about wealth distribution to the North. Why would anyone in the South East or London vote for that? He has little support outside Manchester.

@JeremyVineOn5 Ah man I feel so sorry for Starmer. This just isn't fair. But that's politics I suppose. 😫

@JeremyVineOn5 Other than the Mayor of Manchester Burnham has had an unremarkable political career. Any scrutiny so far has shown a pretty thin veneer of generic rhetoric about a 'fairer society', no big ideas and a lack of detail( he didn't know the fiscal rules). Be careful what you wish for.

@JeremyVineOn5 You literally lied, the economy is in a better place and the deficit is smaller, both complete and utter lies. Inflation is also up

@JeremyVineOn5 Burnham no where near good enough. End.

@JeremyVineOn5 Trouble is, none of the good stuff from this govt gets through to public - blame media but also blame govt comms - & Starmer is not politician enough & now too tarnished in public eye to recover. Whether Burnham would do better with inevitable media pile-on, only time will tell.

@JeremyVineOn5 "Reform killer". Get a grip! He was voted in because people want rid of the current twat in office. Only reason.

@JeremyVineOn5 Lots of "If's" there Marina , Starmer still hold the trump card , Rejoining the EUROPEAN UNION if like Barnier is saying we go back on the same terms, keep the pound ect ect and remain outside the schengen area

@JeremyVineOn5 No,Starmer’s( bar Israel) had huge success there’s no reason to believe Burnham will be better he is trying to ride in on pm’s achievements with no experience on the horse , the only reason the press have laid off him is to destroy the pm ,they will be turn on him just as cruelly

@JeremyVineOn5 Wow he won a seat which labour have won in every election since 1983 now suddenly he can win a National Election.

@JeremyVineOn5 Starmer is best PM for years.

@JeremyVineOn5 No of course he wouldn’t he has tried before and failed.

@JeremyVineOn5 Hence why you should not be presenting. What lies about the economy and the deficit. You really are a deluded, uneducated, aggressive stupid leftie married to a footballer. So what do you know about the economy?

@JeremyVineOn5 Keir Starmer has done all of this marina. All of this.

@JeremyVineOn5 Your worst contribution so far Marina.

@JeremyVineOn5 I wonder if the real question is does the damage the labour party and open the way for the right wingers to get back in 14 years later we lose it in 4

@JeremyVineOn5 One by election against a terrible candidate does not a Reform killer make

@JeremyVineOn5 i think keep stammer as pm, but give the deputy pm to burnham, win the next general election, then let stammer step down, let burnham be the pm.. that might work.