We learned a lot about Andy Burnham this week.
We learned that he does gesture politics. £2 bus fares. Very small tax cuts, and £20 a week off pubs' business rates.
At the same time, we learned that he does not get the bigger picture. The changes to VAT were temporary, and only affected electricity. The cuts to bus fares did not necessarily help regular commuters. The changes to business rates ignored cafés, restaurants and other places essential to community life. He revealed a bias towards alcohol.
Behind all that there was something more sinister. He, and his chancellor, committed themselves to upholding the so-called fiscal rules, which are the voluntary restraints that governments place on themselves to limit spending and guarantee austerity.
Beyond the gestures, then, Andy Burnham had nothing to say. There were no changes to social security. The problems with Carer's Allowance will continue. The bedroom tax is still there. The penal regime within Universal Credit appears set to be maintained.
He reappointed Pat McFadden as Work and Pensions Secretary, and he appears to have a pathological dislike of those making benefit claims, especially for disability, in which it appears he does not believe.
He reappointed Shabana Mahmood as Home Secretary as well. Her racist approaches to migration will continue.
Reappointing Lisa Nandy means that Labour's attack on a free media in the UK will also be maintained.
It appears Burnham is going to allow further exploitation of the North Sea for oil and gas, abandoning any green credentials that he might have.
He is going to let Donald Trump use US air force bases in the UK for “defensive” measures against Iran, when there are no defensive measures against Iran; there are only offensive ones.
We now know that his commitment to devolution does not extend to allowing further independence referendums. He is in denial of democracy and freedom of choice.
We have heard nothing about electoral reform.
There has been no hint that the government might reduce its borrowing costs by taking control of the Bank of England, and cutting the interest paid on central bank reserve accounts, because doing either would remove the excuse for austerity.
And as for the economic consequences of Trump's war, we got no indication that he is even aware that there might be consequences, let alone that they need planning for.
Gestures and £2 bus fares, with significant terms and conditions applying, might work to make you a popular mayor, but such things are desperately microeconomic. The problem is, Andy Burnham is now in charge of the macroeconomy. There is very little sign that he is aware of this as yet, understands anything about it, or intends to make any changes.
As a mayor, Burnham got used to living within the constraints he was given. It seems as though he plans to run his premiership on the same basis. What he has not appreciated is that, as Prime Minister, he can change the constraints. Either he has not yet appreciated that as yet, or he does not wish to make those changes. That, of course, may be the deeper truth. But the only thing that I suspect is left to discover about Burnham is which of those two excuses for inaction he is going to opt for.
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Thanks for the summary of his underwhelm. I think I’ve said in previous comments here that the danger of national politicos cutting their teeth in local politics is that they internalize arguing about budgets and don’t realise that it needn’t be that way at a national level, that arguments are founded differently for sovereign currencies.
He has been in power for 4 days and already everyone is writing him off for crying out loud. No wonder right wing parties rule a disproportionate amount of time when we spend our energies handing them ammunition. Fagash and his cronies are loving it.
But let’s get real. He is a right winger leading a right wing party. Have you not noticed that? If not, you are part of the problem.
As the old saying goes: “Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.”
The real bosses behind the scenes haven’t changed, just the face in front. Burnham has rearranged the deck chairs, nothing more.
True
And today Rayner announces no to rent controls. Rents can only be increased once a year to the property’s “open market rent”. But Labour doesn’t seem to understand that it is the “open market rent” that is the problem.
The word “affordable” still plays no part in Labour thinking when it comes to housing. Rent extraction for millions will clearly go on.
Apparently he, Burnham, was even afraid to meet the largely Unionist supporting media in Glasgow yesterday. And of course with him refusing us “permission” to hold another Independence Referendum, coupled with the “elevation” of Sarwar to the House of Lords, that’s us back in our box. As a member, when oh when are the S.N.P going to grow a pair, and actually take some practical steps to ensure we at least get an opportunity to express our desire to become an Independent nation once again, or not.
The SNP leadership got comfortable with life in Holyrood far too long ago.
“as Prime Minister, he can change the constraints. Either he has not yet appreciated that as yet, or he does not wish to make those changes” <p>
If as seems likely he is merely the new face of the Labour Together faction which used illegal funds to take over the Labour Party, it may well be that he/they have been paid by their ‘donors’ – private finance/private healthcare/Israel lobbyists – not to make those changes
I’ve posted a comment along these lines elsewhere this week, but feel it bears repeating: Burnham’s government is the same auld mince but with a Stone Roses soundtrack.