Some surprising comments from Andy Burnham this morning, talking to the New Statesman fringe about levelling up, as he took to praising none other than Michael Gove. Burnham says the new Minister for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities is “good news for the levelling up agenda”, saying he’s not interested in making a “pointless criticism”:
“The thing about Michael Gove is at least he does things, he brings an energy to what he does, and you may disagree with him but he acts as a minister, he creates an agenda and he then implements it”.
Time to update the CV references, Mr Gove…
Having mastered the chords to Wonderwall, Andy Burnham has now found a new pastime: kickflipping his way to a herniated disc on a skateboard. He’s had a proper nightmayor…
Some Might Say Andy Burnham is ill-suited to a career as a Rock ‘n’ Roll Star, though that didn’t stop the Mayor of Greater Manchester from Bring(ing) it on Down at the Greater Manchester Music Commission with his Supersonic rendition of Wonderwall this afternoon. Asking the audience to Listen Up as he launched the commission’s new initiative to find new musical talent, Burnham told them to give Whatever it takes to harness their full potential. It’s hoped The Masterplan will encourage teens to Stay Young, find new creative outlets, and avoid vices like Cigarettes and Alcohol in their spare time.
Although he struggled a bit with the lyrics (not quite the Shakermaker of Knebworth ’96), Burnham’s vocals could nonetheless be heard Half the World Away, and Guido has no doubt it’ll be a memory that will Live Forever in viewers’ minds. Maybe this’ll be the thing to finally change Labour’s fortunes, Little by Little…
It is expected that today Boris will announce an end to compulsory face masks from July 19th. However, not everyone is happy to see face coverings go; Labour mayors Sadiq Khan, Andy Burnham, Dan Norris and Steve Rotheram all seem reluctant to bin the masks. As such it’s unclear whether masks will continue to be mandated on public transport – which is under the remit of mayors. If Khan had his way, Guido suspects that no one would be boarding the freedom train any time soon…
Unite the union are also calling on ministers to keep face masks mandatory on public transport, writing that optional face coverings would be “an act of gross negligence by the government”.
Boris is expected to advocate people exercise their own judgement. However, Huw Merriman, Tory Chairman of the Commons Transport Committee has slammed the government’s “confusing” policy arguing that scrapping mask laws whilst simultaneously recommending they be worn is a “cop out.” He says guidance should be scrapped in its entirety…
Guido couldn’t noticing David Schneider also weigh in on the great mask-debate. Hardly surprising to hear he enjoys restrictions…
A new YouGov poll for Sky News makes grim reading for poor Keir Starmer. 40% of Labour members want Keir Starmer to resign if he loses tomorrow’s by-election in Batley & Spen, a result which is looking increasingly likely. Time for CCHQ to give him a break and Save Keir Starmer…
The struggling Labour leader has a net approval rating of just 7% with Labour Party members. Instead seven in ten Labour members hope to replace Starmer with Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham, who they believe would be a better leader. Burnham isn’t even a member of parliament…
Most embarrassingly 65% of Labour members believe Labour is on course to lose the next general election. Fingers crossed…
Andy Burnham has forced Sturgeon into a humiliating u-turn as she’s been forced to capitulate on her Scotland-Manchester travel ban. Health secretary Humza Yousaf confirmed in Holyrood today that the ban between Scotland and Manchester, Bolton and Salford will lift tomorrow. Sturgeon brought in the ban without approaching Burnham and without consultation. Mad with power…
Yousaf claims the restrictions are being removed “due to changes in the epidemiological position for those areas.” The ban on travel between Scotland and Blackburn will remain in place, however. Guido imagines locals in Blackburn won’t be too keen to travel to Scotland anyhow, given it’s experiencing its largest Covid wave since the start of the pandemic…
