Andy Burnham is driving us mad for party political reasons (Image: Getty)
Today we have Andy Burnham. He’s not as dull, but the Labour Party looks just as detached from reality on his watch. Possibly more so. This is the only collection of Britons who hanker for the crisis-ridden, strife-torn, bankrupt 1970s, so what do you expect? Last week I was reminded of one dim-witted Starmerism from October 2024, just days before Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered her first Budget. Weirdly, Starmer promised Reeves wouldn’t tax “working people”, when everybody knew that was exactly what she was going to do.
Pressed to explain what he meant by working people, Starmer described somebody who “goes out and earns their living, usually paid in a sort of monthly cheque”, but doesn’t have the ability to “write a cheque to get out of difficulties”. Total word salad, but there was some method to Starmer’s madness. Labour’s manifesto promised not to raise taxes on “working people”, so redefining them right before a Budget was a red flag. And so it proved.
Days later, Reeves hammered savers, pensioners, landlords, farmers and business owners, all of whom will have been working people at some point in their lives, and in many cases still were. Serves them right for having money in the bank, I suppose. And the ability to write a cheque – not that many people do these days.
Now Burnham’s Labour is having another shot at defining these mythical working creatures. Chief Secretary to the Treasury Emma Reynolds just declared: “I don’t think employers are working people.” So the millions who set up businesses, work long hours, take financial risks, employ staff and keep the economy moving don’t count. Which means Labour can go after them too.
On Wednesday, Louise Haigh, standing in for Burnham at PMQs, was asked the same question. Her definition of working people? Those who “don’t have savings they can dip into” and “rely on good public services”. So basically, if you’re skint and only scrape by, you’re a working person. If you save and make your way, you’re not. Haigh seems to have got it back to front.
This madness is being used as an excuse to milk pensioners too. By very definition, they’re no longer working people. Which is presumably why Burnham decided the state pension triple lock makes a fair target. Along with their savings, capital gains and inheritances.
Labour’s rising financial star Torsten Bell seems to regard pensioners as a vast herd of cash cows. He’s never seen a working person he didn’t want to tax, but he wants to tax pensioners even more. This madness doesn’t stop at taxation. Burnham jumped into the slavery compensation row with both feet, embarrassing the King and potentially leaving us on the hook for trillions. You’d have to be completely barmy to do that. The sight of Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband diving in proves it.
Anybody who thinks Caribbean countries can be fobbed off with the £40m Burnham promised last week must be addled.They want trillions.That we don’t have. Again, there’s a method. Burnham is now willing to do or say anything to win back the motley collection of die-hard Corbynites and Gaza-obsessed Islamists who defected to Zack Polanski’s Greens.
So he scratches away at Brexit sores, ripping open a debate that tore the country apart for years, while pretending he isn’t. Incredibly, Labour is now picking the scab off the trans debate too, when most of us just want this toxic issue to go away.
But Labour’s draft conversion practices bill could expose parents who question a child’s decision to transition to a potential prison sentence. Madness. As is shuttering the North Sea fields while importing oil and gas from abroad. Yet more madness. Still, what do you expect from a party that fell head first for Russell Brand? Sanity?
None of this is accidental. Floating madcap ideas then backtracking, only to float them again more aggressively, seems designed to rally the wider Left to Labour’s flag, while the Right tears itself three ways. If Burnham calls and wins an election, Britain will completely decouple from reality. We may never rediscover our fabled common sense again.
ANDY BURNHAM’S LABOUR JUST HIT PEAK STUPIDITY – AND THE MADNESS WILL ONLY GET WORSE!
Andy Burnham’s Labour is facing growing criticism over its political direction, with opponents warning that a series of controversial decisions could leave Britain facing even greater economic and social difficulties.
For critics, the problem is no longer simply one unpopular policy or an isolated political mistake. It is the growing impression that Labour is increasingly disconnected from the concerns of ordinary British households.
From immigration and taxation to energy costs, Brexit and public spending, the government is facing difficult questions about whether its priorities genuinely reflect what voters want.
And as political frustration grows, the opposition is preparing to make every controversial decision a major battleground.
Labour’s Political Judgement Under Fire
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Labour entered government promising stability, economic growth and a fresh approach to British politics.
However, critics argue that the party has struggled to convince the public that its decisions are making everyday life easier.
Families remain concerned about household bills, housing costs, taxation and the pressure on public services.
For many voters, political promises mean very little unless they translate into tangible improvements.
The government therefore faces an increasingly difficult challenge: demonstrating that its policies are delivering results rather than creating additional uncertainty.
The Immigration Question Labour Cannot Escape
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Immigration remains one of the most divisive issues in British politics.
Labour has promised to tackle illegal migration and organised people-smuggling networks, but critics argue that the public wants much clearer results.
The number of small boat crossings, pressure on accommodation and the cost of asylum provision continue to attract considerable attention.
Reform UK has used these concerns to strengthen its political message, arguing that Britain needs a much tougher approach to border control.
Labour insists that tackling criminal smuggling networks requires international cooperation, enforcement and changes to the asylum system.
The political difficulty is that voters want evidence of progress, not simply another announcement.
Brexit: Is Labour Taking Britain in the Wrong Direction?
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Another major source of disagreement concerns Britain’s relationship with the European Union.
Labour has supported closer cooperation with Brussels in areas including trade, security, energy and industrial policy.
Supporters believe reducing unnecessary barriers could help British businesses and improve economic performance.
However, Brexit supporters fear that closer regulatory alignment could gradually undermine the independence secured by the 2016 referendum.
The question is whether the government can improve relations with Europe without compromising the principle that Britain should make its own decisions.
For voters who supported leaving the EU, this is not a minor technical disagreement. It is a question of democratic accountability.
Energy Bills Continue to Cause Frustration
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Energy policy is another area where Labour faces intense scrutiny.
Households want affordable electricity and reliable heating, particularly during the colder months.
The government argues that investment in renewable energy will improve energy security and reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels.
Critics question whether the transition is moving too quickly and whether the financial burden is being passed on to ordinary consumers.
They want ministers to explain exactly how their policies will reduce bills.
The government must show that environmental targets and affordable energy can work together.
Taxpayers Want Better Value for Money
Public spending has become another major political battleground.
Families facing higher living costs are increasingly asking whether government money is being spent effectively.
There are concerns about public-sector inefficiency, welfare expenditure, infrastructure delays and the financial pressures facing local authorities.
Labour argues that investment is necessary to repair services damaged by years of underfunding.
Opponents counter that throwing more money at existing problems will not necessarily produce better results.
The real issue is accountability.
Taxpayers deserve to know where their money is going and whether government departments are delivering value.
Reform UK Sees an Opportunity
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Nigel Farage will undoubtedly see Labour’s difficulties as an opportunity.
Reform UK has built much of its political appeal around immigration, taxation, national sovereignty and dissatisfaction with traditional political parties.
The party wants to persuade voters that Labour and the Conservatives have failed to address Britain’s fundamental problems.
Farage’s challenge is to demonstrate that Reform can offer realistic solutions rather than simply criticising the government.
That means providing credible plans for the economy, healthcare, defence, immigration and public finances.
Political frustration can create opportunities, but winning public trust requires more than strong speeches.
Andy Burnham Faces a Difficult Political Test
Burnham’s political position makes the situation particularly interesting.
He has cultivated a reputation as a politician willing to challenge established thinking and speak directly about the concerns of ordinary people.
But critics argue that Labour must demonstrate consistency between its promises and its decisions.
If the government continues facing criticism over living costs, immigration and public services, its political opponents will have an increasingly powerful argument.
Burnham and his colleagues will need to show that they understand the concerns of voters outside Westminster.
Could Things Get Even Worse?
The coming months will be crucial.
Britain faces difficult economic decisions, pressure on public services and continuing uncertainty over international relations.
Labour will need to demonstrate progress on several fronts simultaneously.
The government cannot afford to treat every criticism as political noise.
Some concerns reflect genuine problems that require practical solutions.
Equally, opposition parties must demonstrate that their alternatives are affordable and workable.
The public deserves a serious debate about Britain’s future rather than an endless exchange of political insults.
Britain Needs Competence, Not More Political Chaos
Ultimately, the biggest challenge facing Labour is restoring public confidence.
People want secure jobs, affordable homes, manageable bills, functioning public services and a government that understands their priorities.
They do not want complicated political announcements that fail to improve their everyday lives.
Burnham and Labour must demonstrate that their policies are capable of delivering measurable results.
Otherwise, the frustration currently directed towards the government could become a much bigger electoral problem.
THE BIG QUESTIONS:
- Has Labour lost touch with ordinary British voters?
- Is the government getting its priorities wrong?
- Should Britain take a tougher approach to immigration?
- Is closer cooperation with Brussels a sensible economic strategy or a threat to Brexit?
- Can Labour bring down household bills and improve public services?
- Is Nigel Farage becoming the biggest beneficiary of Labour’s difficulties?
One thing is certain: British voters are becoming increasingly impatient with political promises. They want results, accountability and a government capable of putting the country’s interests first. If Labour cannot deliver, the political consequences could be enormous.