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Please supply any evidence here why either could lead the Labour Party and the United Kingdom – we can all imagine the Wes Kid in these positions I venture!
Burnham’s actually a scouser, born in Aintree; but that pedantry aside he should be one of the rare politicians to actually keep his word and see out his term as Manchester mayor, which he promised to do when elected in 2024.
Furthermore, given the notable swings to Reform in his Manchester consituencies last week, despite only one-third of the seats voting, the received wisdom that he’s a popular mayor seems less than robust; hence the Labour candidate to replace him should he jump ship would be anything but a shoo-in.
I have no ‘evidence’ that Rayner would be a good replacement for Starmer, other than her being a woman, which of itself would be a refreshing change.
They’re no where near leader(s) yet, but already today –
The yield on 10-year gilts rose nearly 10 basis points to over five per cent for the second time in mere weeks.
The yield on 30-year government bonds rose 10 basis points to near 5.7 per cent, nearing a 27-year high the government suffered at the beginning of this month.
Both of these clowns havent a scooby how markets affect a mixed/market
economy. This whole government is ‘shot’.How some on here think Starmer is not the problem is beyond me. He is ‘on the doorstep’ and in the voting intention surveys.
Having said that this government are absolutely clueless when it comes to finances, economics, etc.Big financial decisions need to be made NOW, not kicked down the road, time and time again.
“Burnham’s actually a scouser, born in Aintree;”
Not a scouser, then.
Although he is much more from Liverpool than he is from Manchester. He supports Everton. I have seen him in the Ship And Mitre (an Evertonian pub) in the city more than once.
His Manchester connection stems from when he was MP for Leigh. Not in Manchester but not far away.
Neither would be any good. Rayner would be popular with Labour Party activists but I suspect less so with her colleagues and in the country. Her vote share in her constituency has steadily decreased and Reform swept the board in the local election in Tameside.
Rayner has one huge advantage over Burnham inasmuch as she does have a seat in the Commons. Although I have heard a rumour that Peter Dowd is willing to stand aside in Bootle for local lad Burnham.
Dowd won Bootle in 2024 with a 22,000 majority and around 67% of the vote. If Burnham cannot win there, he will struggle to win anywhere.
It is incredible to think that Bootle used to be a safe Conservative seat many years ago. Between 1911 and 1918 it was represented by Andrew Bonar Law, Leader of the Conservative Party and later to be Prime Minister, albeit briefly. By that time he was representing Glasgow Central, another place where Conservative MPs are a long distant memory.
Bootle was also the death knell of the SDP. In the first of two by-elections in the constituency in 1990, the party polled fewer votes than the Monster Raving Loony Party. Even the vain Dr Owen had to realise the game was up at that point, especially after Screaming Lord Sutch offered to form a coalition..
Not a scouser, then.
A cockney is defined as a person born within the sound of the Bow Bells ringing from the 17th century St Mary-le-Bow church.
Given that both of the Liverpool cathedrals are 20th century bulidings how is a scouser defined?
Whilst being the UK’s Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Rayner broke the ministerial code for failing to seek proper tax advice and thus underpaying stamp duty by 40k. Even I can get those sort of things checked and done right. She shouldn’t be running the country.
Farage didn’t report a gift of £5 million from a Brit so patriotic that he left the UK in order not to pay tax.
He definitely shouldn’t be running the country.
Farage says it doesn’t matter as it was a gift 2 weeks before he became a MP and was required for security , I’m sure he’ll be happy to provide the receipts …… sorry if my 10 year old niece isn’t believing that
Pick 3 on Saturday champion 2025/2026
The tax issue probably will stop Rayner. If Burnham does get back in via Bootle, it is rumoured she will be content with being Foreign Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister.
As for the Scouse Question, Aintree (and Bootle for that matter) were both absorbed by Liverpool’s expansion throughout the 20th century and are de facto part of Liverpool now. However, both officially remain in Sefton rather than Liverpool.
Although it has been taken over by Liverpool, in my youth I can remember old Bootle folk who very much considered themselves and their town to be separate from their neighbour.
Bootle Town Hall is a beautiful piece of civic architecture. A pity about how grim the rest of the town looks today.
Bootle Town Hall is a beautiful piece of civic architecture
I’m a great admirer of Victorian civic architecture. I mentioned elsewhere a recent visit to Huddersfield which is chocker with such splendid buildings. Though, like Bootle, the town has become rather shabby.
Wandering away down Off-Topic Lane, what do you think of Liverpool’s cathedrals? I like the Catholic one purely because of its pleasingly unique design but find the Anglican one to be an unwelcoming, rather intimidating vast edifice that attempts to ape the great medieval cathedrals but fails badly. Don’t like the red stone either, though am aware it’s from a local quarry.
I like both the cathedrals. They make for a striking sight on the Liverpool skyline.
They both look very different from their original designs. The Anglican cathedral was originally meant to have two towers. The inexperienced Giles Gilbert Scott was not allowed to supervise the construction of his own design. When the more experienced architect appointed to mentor him died, Scott (who had almost walked away from the project in frustration) changed it to the single tower.
The Catholic cathedral was intended to be a vast structure designed by Lutyens. It was to have the largest dome in the world. Unfortunately, the money ran out in post WW2 Britain and the structure we see today was built instead. The only part of Lutyens’s magnificent design to be completed was the crypt, now used for concerts and also the venue for the Liverpool beer festival.
While quite liking “Paddy’s Wigwam”, I sometimes wish it was taken down and Lutyens’s design built instead. It would be a magnificent sight and would keep local builders in gainful employment for years.
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