So it looks like Burnham's definitely going for it. He's achieved being media friendly and also left of centre (not easy), but not left enough to put off all of middle England, where the votes are decided.
I'd cite Blair, but hopefully that won't be appropriate.
The antisemitism claims were there long before Starmer, and to be fair a lot of the concern was actually valid. Not all though, and I agree it may have been a handy excuse to shunt a few people away.
What do you think of the Greens losing their deposit in Makerfield?
Call me cynical, but with a demographic that's >90% white British, it's much harder for them to shoehorn certain overseas issues into their campaign, as they did in the byelection and the local council elections to winning effect.
He’s already pleaded allegiance toI was not a fan of Burnham during his heavily Blairite era, but must admit his positions do seem to have drifted a little left of centre during his time as Mayor.
I’m not fully convinced but he’s definitely a step up from Starmer.
Whilst I agree he was left in an
atrocious position inheriting years of Tory incompetence, and also agree he’s actually done several good things (especially on worker rights,) I also think he’s done truly horrendous stuff.
The insane level of purging of anyone even remotely left of centre - especially the false accusations of antisemitism - are unforgivable.
The brutal attacks on privacy also take us way too far into panopticon and thought crime territory. I can’t even use Apple Pay anymore. and if I still had a wanking schedule I’d be shit outta luck.
Man’s a nightmare. Yes he did a few good things, inherited a shitshow, but has gone out of his way to make this country worse in so many ways I cannot forgive.
There are antisemites in all areas of life unfortunately. The Left is certainly not immune to this. However, antizionism is not the same as antisemitism and to conflate the two us, in itself, antisemitic.
I strongly suspect the Greens weren’t even trying in this by-election. They knew the real fight was Labour v Reform. Preventing a Reform win was the overriding concern.
Even as somebody firmly in support of the Greens - and very much not a fan of Labour - I would be a fool to not tactically vote Labour in this very specific case.
I’m near-certain this is why so few voted Green. Frankly they had no chance against Burnham so why go out if your way to split the vote?
I wholeheartedly disagree with your suggested analysis of Green tactics. I’ll just leave it there.
Not permanently, unfortunately.So Starmer is gone.
I find her (or maybe did a while ago) oddly attractive - but then again I have a weakness for bolshy Northern redheads (who are, in my admittedly small-ish sample size of 3, sensational in the sack!)Needs Angela Rayner's nice legs and big knockers.
More gum than teeth. Instant nope for me. Plus, she’s a ginger. So clearly stinks of piss and lacking a soul.I find her (or maybe did a while ago) oddly attractive - but then again I have a weakness for bolshy Northern redheads (who are, in my admittedly small-ish sample size of 3, sensational in the sack!)
Yeah those teeth look a bit....dangerous?More gum than teeth. Instant nope for me. Plus, she’s a ginger. So clearly stinks of piss and lacking a soul.
Thank Fuck for that! The man is a total nightmare.So Starmer is gone.
Swapping Starmer for Burnham is like being a kid in hospital and being told Jimmy Saville’s visit has been cancelled, but then hearing a fucking didgeridoo and hearing “can you tell what it is yet?”.
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.The Online Safety Act was implemented by a Tory government lest we forget.Apparently Burnham is said to be even more Gung-ho in favour of internet controls, surveillance, and legislation.
This is one of the issues with left wing politics, with their belief in a "bigger government" or "larger state controls", over individual citizens, not just business, markets, economics etc.
Meanwhile moderately or centre right wing governments, probably wouldn't be going so far and so quick with all of this.