Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

Thought it would be timely to kick this thread off now that Starmer is being put out to pasture.

Darren Jones has confirmed to Sky News that he won't run against Andy Burnham for the Labour leadership. With his name out of the frame, it looks like Barnham has a clear route to power.

The Financial Times has an article about Barnham.

In terms of his attributes
And his weaknesses
https://www.ft.com/content/9949d99f-...syn-25a6b1a6=1

Burnham has now appointed a chief of staff

https://news.sky.com/story/politics-...ction-12593360 [/quote]

Re: Andy Barnham's chronicles
 

Nice thread start Andrew, someone had to do it :Yes:

This is the bit that I consider important:

I think it's long been a problem with PM's of any party, getting everyone 'onside' to a policy decision and carrying it through, there are just too many with opposing views/agendas and we go round in circles.

Re: Andy Barnham's chronicles
 

That criticism does seem a bit iike that made of Starmer too.

Say what you like about Blair and Thatcher, but they did know their own minds.

---------- Post added at 13:21 ---------- Previous post was at 13:19 ----------

But with a big majority in the Commons, Burnham should be ok at implementing policies. The issue may be more in deciding what those policies are in the first place.

Re: Andy Barnham's chronicles
 

Let's add some information, especially around the CAZ in Greater Manchester (GM) and why I fully believe he will push for the removal and banning of all personal transport aside from public transport, by introduction of CAZ's and ULEZ across the whole country!

In 2020 Burnham was told by the Conservatives to implement a CAZ (Clean Air Zone) in Salford Quays and the City Centre, ONLY the city centre and Salford Quays.

Realising he could make money from it to use for what ever he wanted in Manchester, he went to the regional mayors and council leaders of all the areas under the "Greater Manchester" banner, pulled them all into a meeting and told them he had a plan, that plan was to install cameras for number recognition etc basically the same as the ULEZ cameras, these would be installed at every boundary line for GM, on every road to make sure there was no escape.

I know this because I saw the orders go into a few companies about installing Fibre in the ground to the areas where the cameras were to be installed.


After blowing the initial iirc £100m he was given, he went back to the Conservatives demanding more money for everything that was needed to implement his plan.

When they told him to "jog on, you have expanded beyond the requested scope, so no money for you", he then came out saying "I didn't want this, they are forcing my hands" and suspended it.

Here is the problem with his public statements though, he instructed his communications teams to send letters, leaflets and more to all medium and large businesses in the GM area that he saw fit to, and instructed them to inform their staff that he was going to "make sure it got implemented and that everyone would have to pay" and his reason behind it was "public transport is more important and needs funding".


Multiple companies told him they would pull their offices out of Manchester because of the CAZ, because whilst publicly he was saying "Personal" cars would not be affected, in the documentation he had sent out, it said "anything with larger than a 1.0L engine will be charged up to £18 per day each way depending on engine size for personal vehicles, business vehicles will be charged based on weight and physical size up to £60 per day each way".

For some people that would have been £36 just to drive to work each day, £720 a month!! all to try and force people into using the busses and trains.

He get's in as PM and you watch how quickly he starts to remove basic freedoms beyond what this already dictatorship of a government have removed.


Also let's not forget to add, his wife worked for a marketing company which had the company operating the Manchester public charging infrastructure as a client, which Burnham says "wasn't an issue" but since he was trying to force people to use the busses, trains, trams and ebikes, it was clearly a conflict of interest.

Also the money he gave to "people" to swap from Petrol and Diesel vehicles, some of which apparently cannot be "found" anywhere, so already sleaze and corruption is on the table, added to the lying, cheating and stealing he has done as Manchester Mayor.

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

This could set him apart from his predecessor. I think with today's tech it might work especially as PMs do a lot of travel anyway.
https://www.ft.com/content/f3044cb3-...syn-25a6b1a6=1

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

The guy has already launched his ego into space then . .

Leeds or Birmingham would be better, but his mates aren't there ;)

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

Seems like just a gimmick to me.

I would think it would make it more difficult to interact with other MPs, other than via online communication.

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

Actually, it may save all those people on 'peaceful' protests going all the way down to London . . although the policing costs could shoot up ;)

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

the important thing is was his dad a toolmaker and did he buy his mam a donkey

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

His dad was a telephone engineer.

Other leaders' dads:
Nigel Farage's dad: Stockbroker and commodities dealer
Kemi Badenoch's dad: GP with his own practice in Nigeria
Ed Davey's dad: Solicitor
Zack Polanski's dad: Tool-seller in DIY shop
Rupert Lowe's dad: MD of national electrical contractor

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

Sounds like an expensive gimmick to me

Good friend of mine was Niges dad's secretary

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

Should have just renamed the Starmer one, for all the difference.

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

You and Starmer have the same dad?

So it’s just been sibling rivalry all along, not politics…

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

Settle it once and for all did he own the factory? :D

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

I ain’t heavy, either… ;)

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

You rotter, I'm gonna be humming that tune all day now :D

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

Hear! Hear He must resign because of his policies/because he has no policies! :D

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

What do they want cat benefits?

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

More importantly, does he have a Norwegian Blue?

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

Was that written by Chris Mason or Laura Kuenssberg?

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

I think Burnham will read the room and go for another person.

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

Berny is a top bloke, but his eyebrows are very suspect. I'll wait to see how the eyebrows develop before passing judgement.

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

OY!! nothing wrong with large bushy eyebrows, apparently a sign of intellectual superiority - I read it in a book . . . it's number 47 in "One Hundred Myths That Make You Chuckle"

:D

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

You always seemed to me as someone who assiduously trimmed his excess foliage…

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

Aren't you the head honcho of trimmed foliage, or lack of :shrug:

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

I always kept them bushy for if I eventually started to go thin on top . . that would have been a brilliant comb over :D

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

here we go again, another 10 year mission to boldly go where no pm has gone before

Andy Burnham will promise to lead a 10-year mission to drive up living standards as he sets out his vision for Britain.


https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politi...peech-37359329

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

could be communism,have we tried that yet.

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

Has nobody told him there already is a post code lottery?

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

looks like we are getting manchestuhism like wot they have in manchestuh,yea mad for it



all run from numbuh 10 norf


big speech no questions from the press

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

I believe your statement supports the point he was making…

Are you an undercover Burnhamite? ;)

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

Busted :shocked:

I guess wearing the red tie with the 'I love a good conspiracy' T-shirt gave it away :D

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

More promises that will never happen, nothing changes.

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

I doubt there's many that expect changes, although it could get worse I suppose :juggle:

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

seems to me he want's to work from home and not in downing street, stupid idea :td:

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

meet them in the channel give them a gallon of petrol point them at France and say bon voyage,this will save the cost of keeping them.

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

Oh come on Papa, that's just plain ridiculous. I know the price of petrol is (allegedly) on the way down, but it's still costly. I'd suggest half a gallon at most, which should be enough to get them within sight of the French coastguard . . . who will then supply them with 3 liters of petrol and point them our way. :D

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

people do say i am overly generous

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

Devolution is needed. BoJo spent a whopping £96m on regenerating Hartlepool. The voters there ended up voting Remain as they felt the money being spent was not as they wished.

No 10 North. Get growth first? We've struggled with getting growth to date so no harm in trying other ideas like this to get it. Manchester is a success story and it's daft not to aspire to replicate its success elsewwhere.

---------- Post added at 11:05 ---------- Previous post was at 11:04 ----------

If the solution is to adopt one of Trump's undemocratic ways of working, you're asking the wrong question.

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

It’s now become patently obvious that Seph is an early iteration of an AI chatbot (ChatGPTory?), evinced by the recent hallucinatory posts… :D

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

Speaking of hallucinatory posts, I see Starmer is pledging money for defense drones "to keep people safer"


I never knew we could use drones to combat knife crime, car theft, vandalism, fraud, and feral teenagers.

You learn something every day :D

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

You need to see somebody - quickly. I wonder how many people agree with you.

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.... nor the thousands of sub-machine guns in the basement of the Iranian Embassy.

And how would we deal with Argentina when they try their tricks again?

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

Don't worry about it Seph, Hugh often refers to me as an iteration of someone or something.


I sometimes wonder if we're becoming an item :erm: :D

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

I'm sure any devolution would not be an overnight matter, These things take time - more evolution than revolution.

Not sure how relevant listing things here like defence procurement is, no one is suggesting it is not a national matter. But it looks like some aspects of devolution do work, as this report on health shows.
https://gmintegratedcare.org.uk/heal...nts-to-health/

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

Probably with the infantry forces, Royal Artillery (with Sky Sabre surface-to-air missile systems) and Royal Engineer detachments we currently have there, along with the RAF Typhoon QRA squadron, and the Frigate or Destroyer that is on permanent patrol there…

The Argentinians most modern airplanes are second-hand F16s - no match for Typhoons…

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

Devolution as I said is an evolutionary thing, as it has been to date in England. It doesn't need to pause whilst we decide whether to natinalise some steel assets or not.

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

Time to be more positive and not talking this great nation of ours down.

Hugh has explained that we're stronger militarily than Argentina so all good on that front. And after this recent heatwave, it's time to park those dreams of coal-fired furnaces and power stations and focus on cost effective renewables that cut our energy bills, help manufacturing to be more competitive and help us regain our energy sovereignty.

And the Telegraph officially comes under German control today by an EU-supporting owner; what's not to like?

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

The figures have been shared many times.
"While renewable sources such as wind and solar are typically cheaper to produce, gas generation is more expensive due to the cost of producing gas."
https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/blog/wholes...roducing%20gas.

Gas attracts global price rates and more capacity in the UK won't impact this. At the moment, the high price of gas is negatively impacting British industry, not renewables. We need to look at the facts, not what GB News's fossil fuel funders might prefer to tell us.

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

I'd love some solar panels on my roof, and a couple of batteries to store the 'free' power they would make.

Sadly I can't afford it . . and neither can the Government ;)

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

However, they are also impossible to produce a lot of the time (no sun, no wind). ;)

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

A decent negotiator cannot do the impossible. That's just hot air.

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

Well if the government stopped being cowards and decoupled the price of Renewables from the price of Gas and Coal like the Conservatives said they would, now Labour have said they will, then the price of our electric and gas could be cheaper, but none of the parties will do that because the funds will dry up in their back pockets.



As it is I have got a Ecoflow Delta 3 Classic sat behind me, I have a 515w solar panel being delivered anytime between tomorrow and Monday 6th July, then I need to run the cables out of the room, down to where the panel will be going temporarily because there is some work going on behind the house, and I do not want the panel damaging.

That 515w panel I am hoping will provide 400w+ during the day, to remove that from the main electric usage, if that works out, then I will start saving for a larger version of the Ecoflow and another panel or four and essentially move off the grid for day usage.

If the 515w panel can remove 400w it will remove about 70% of the electric from my server rack during the day.

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

Not worth paying for solar panels at my time of life for as I wouldn't recoup the cost, however these small portable units that are soon to go on sale at Tesco look interesting.

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

it's not about you it's about saving the planet for future generations

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

I'm with Richard on this one, it takes too long to get any savings from solar panels and batteries, and "Saving the planet" is just greenie nonsense. As has been noted in previous topics, even if the whole of the UK stopped producing any CO2 at all, it will still have practically no effect, we produce around 1% or less of global emissions

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

You could tell it was just a bit of fun because, unlike the experts on global warming, he didn't fly half way round the world to mention it ;)

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

yep i'm the one with the coal powered stove and a diesel car

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

I don't think some of you are giving Andy a chance.

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Glad you've seen the light at last ;)

How are sea levels at Cleethorpes?

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

about the same as 20,000 years ago

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

Seas levels were much lower 20,000 years ago (Ice Age). :D

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

20,000 years ago, what is now Cleethorps would have been buried under some 50-100m of ice.

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

If the Government want to encourage people to use solar panels they should skew any subsidies so that younger people get less (or none), because they will have the time to recoup the financial gains. The older a person is, the less viable it becomes, so subsidies need to be more generous to encourage take up.

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

But surely when a young person buys the deceased older person’s house, they would benefit from any subsidy given to the older person - the circle of life…

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

I would think most young people are unlikely to even afford a house these days, nevermind solar stuff.

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

With the way Solar is going, they will be more able to build a house from solar panels than buy or rent a house.

Average salary iirc needed for a single person to buy a house under the age of 40 is £75K a year, after 40 iirc it increases by $10K every 5 years.

That £75K is to allow for putting £10K away for 4 years to be able to put down a £48K deposit as houses are going up and up in price.

If you don't need to save a deposit, perhaps you have already been saving then you "only" need to be earning £56K a year, far beyond what is possible for most people, even renting is going to require more than £30k a year soon!

Where I live, 6 years ago houses were £130K they are now £200K+ on average and only increasing, which is a bonus for those who will be able to pay the tax that thieving reeves will demand, but for those that can't they will lose the house and any money from it, as the government will just take it because you fail to pay your "fair share" and the fines, interest etc will be made to take the full value.

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

They would and that's a good thing. Without a decent subsidy, it's unlikely that the house would benefit from solar power, but if one were to be given, the younger person would actually benefit from it indirectly.

I guess it depends on the time lapse, do solar panels last indefinitely?

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

Nothing last indefinitely

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

my solar panels had a 25 year life span ,they get less effective every year, so you could pass on a bit of a starmer as someone will have to fund new ones

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

Which tax are you referring to ? SD ?

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

Blair warns Burnham to not increase capital gains tax. I would have thought that Blair's millions would be secreted-away offshore?

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...-b3009140.html

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

That would be inheritance tax depending on the value of the house and who it's left to and the value of the house.

If my mum and dad were to leave me their house, and one of them passed and the house was worth £550k (it's not) but I would have to find £20K from somewhere, if I couldn't find it, and the remaining parent couldn't, the house would be taken, we would lose it because we would be forced to sell it, to pay the inheritance tax.

Now I know that is not Reeves who set that, it was done before her, but she could have changed it to increase the value of home before paying it, but no, she kept it as it is and instead decided to implement policies that actually caused a bloke to commit suicide, someone who potentially is a relative of mine, but I am not sure as I have not done a family tree.

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

This isn't correct. Allowances above the standard £325,000 exemption are made for spouses and children.

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

I’m sorry to hear that , and thanks for explaining.

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

Spouses yes, they are exempt for CGT on a property, children not so.

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

And when both parents pass, it becomes £500,000.

https://www.gov.uk/inheritance-tax/passing-on-home

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

So you would be "forced" to sell a £550k house, to pay £20k.
Meaning you would then be left with £530k in your bank account ?

Hmmm, Yeah, I can see how terrible that would be.

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

Exactly. Giving £20,000 back to society in return for a £550,000 gift is a problem i'd be happy to face everyday!

---------- Post added at 06:13 ---------- Previous post was at 06:12 ----------

They aren't exempt, but they receive a higher allowance as noted by Dingbat.

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

did society help to pay to buy the house or does it just want the gravy

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

No because by the time the HMRC etc have added all the fines, penalties and fees etc that they would add, because "selling the house would be the last resort" the value left could be nothing, they could take all of it.

---------- Post added at 09:17 ---------- Previous post was at 09:15 ----------

I am sorry but if society didn't help to pay for it, society don't have a claim to it and if the child of a parent helped to pay for it, why should they also have to pay inheritance tax on something they helped to pay for?

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

They want the gravy when you’re buying the house…… and I don’t think they help with that either…..

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

Or buying anything else that has VAT or excise charges on it.

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

Society doesn't help with the work required to earn a wage, but tax is levied on the salary. Nobody likes paying tax, but governments need it in order to run public services.

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

Depending on your salary tax you could argue that tax is levied unfairly on salaries the 60% trap being one of them.

It’s an interesting point about the government needing to run public services, but what about the not inconsiderate number of people who consume public services yet make no financial contribution, is that ok ? Or should there be another way for people to contribute ?

---------- Post added at 17:52 ---------- Previous post was at 17:48 ----------

Sorry but stamp duty is daylight robbery as are estate agents charging a % fee to sell your home (an act solicitors and surveyors are increasingly getting in on also)

The fees & taxes were being charged to sell our old home and buy are new one are enough to make your eyes water. And we’re not buying something ridiculously expensive either

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

322 MPs endorse the king in the north.

Re: Andy Burnham’s chronicles
 

how many voters ?