AS I SEE IT
BY MARIANNE HERON
If Andy Burnham wore underpants over his trousers and donned a cape, he could hardly seem more like a superhero in the making… for now. The British PM-to-be has charisma, good looks and an optimistic, easy-going way with him. He even wears heavy horn-rimmed glasses like Christopher Reeve’s alter ego in Superman.
The Liverpudlian won his spurs (not to be confused with his support for Everton) as Mayor of Greater Manchester for the last nine years. His popularity earned him the title King of the North and 55% of the vote in the Makerfield by-election. He is popular with Labour Party members and MPs, enough to make him the envy of leaders like Martin and Harris at home and Keir Starmer, who resigned as PM on the day Burnham returned as an MP to Westminster and where he previously served in three roles in Cabinet.
The superheroes of legend, from Odysseus to Cú Chulainn, follow a three-phase trajectory. First is to take up the challenge of a near-impossible mission. Second, to undertake a perilous voyage while achieving superhuman tasks and last, to bask in admiration for their feats.
Will Burnham’s return to Westminster to oust Starmer be, as he put it, a ‘turning point’ in British politics, as he takes on the Herculean task of getting Britain out of the doldrums, a task which has defeated seven prime ministers in the last 10 years?
Hercules had to achieve 12 tasks, among them cleaning the Augean Stables, where he cleverly diverted two rivers to wash away the accumulation of dung. Burnham will need diversionary tactics to wash away the economic constraint, political pushback and overseas crises which have stalled the implementation of Labour’s 2024 ‘Change’ manifesto following the party’s resounding victory. He may have the ability to bring others with him but, like Jason, he still has to choose stalwart Argonauts for his Cabinet and declare his plan for action.
He has already been cast as the dragon slayer of Nigel Farage, whose Reform Party has been breathing fire on Labour support. His track record in turning around Manchester’s economic fortunes to become the fastest growing region in the UK is encouraging, together with the success of the Bees Projects (named for Manchester’s symbol, the worker bee), among them an integrated low-fare transport system.
Decentralisation, with a move away from London-centric power and giving more autonomy to local authorities and regions, is one of Burnham’s stated aims. It’s one which might, given a more federal treatment of Northern Ireland, help pave the way towards a United Ireland. Strong Irish connections in the north of England, especially in Burnham’s native Liverpool, and his own family links to Co. Louth, might be a positive influence on Burnham’s already stated interest in Irish economic affairs.
His shopping list of tasks is not dissimilar to those facing the Government here. There’s the need to upgrade Britain’s crumbling infrastructure, an urgent need for more housing, reform of the health service, accelerated measures for green energy and to tackle climate change. But the difficulty is where to find the money (a problem we do not share) without either pushing the country further into debt or alienating the public, already frustrated with the cost-of-living crisis, with either taxes or cuts to services. Total public sector net debt is now approaching £2.9 trillion, nearly 94% to 100% of GDP, levels not seen since the 1960s, while interest payments on national debt have reached a record £10.3 billion, driven by inflation and global market factors.
Other known factors about Burnham’s policy preferences are the introduction of proportional representation to replace the current first-past-the-post electoral system, the nationalisation of some services and improving social care. He favours closer ties with Europe and has talked of the reversal of Brexit within his lifetime and one of his foremost aims is to make the country more equal.
Perhaps Britons, sick of political turmoil, may be more willing to back Burnham than his predecessors. He is determined to lead, having previously mounted challenges for the leadership of the party in 2010 and 2015.
I like to think — given vision, courage, ability to inspire followers plus good advisers — it will be third time lucky for him. Remember, the Caped Crusader inspired a further three films, including Batman Forever.
