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'Burnham Is Trapped': The Budget Could End Labour's Honeymoon Period | Jason Cowley

Times Politics

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“I do think he's trapped by Starmer's manifesto pledges, and he's also constrained by the economic realities of the country as it is.”

While Andy Burnham's takeover has delivered a short-term poll boost for Labour, the upcoming budget will bring a harsh reality check as the UK's national debt “really constrains” the government and “what Healey is able to do”, says Sunday Times columnist, Jason Cowley.

Jason Cowley was speaking to Rosie Wright and Guto Harri on Times Radio Breakfast. Listen live every day, from 6-10am.

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15 Comments

@davidkennedy8929 9 hours ago

Unfortunately burnham doesn’t think that the bond markets should have any say on the economy! He’s about to find out that mistake.

@DavidGetling 7 hours ago

Stopping the enormous amount of benefit fraud would bring in Labour all the money they need, and more. But I guess it would lose them millions of their voters.

@keithhowson7836 4 hours ago

"He's a very good storyteller Andy Burnham" says the commentator. Trouble is, that's ok if we were living in a Jackanory land, but it's the real world. The country is close to bankruptcy, interest rates are going up, inflation is going up, unemployment is going up, taxes are going up, that's the real story.

@andrewdavies8954 7 hours ago

Burnham is trapped by his own party makings, and we the tax payer are going to have to pay for it, they just don't care about us .

@MK-to4et 7 hours ago (edited)

I find it weird during their conference to run on message of "hope" and "optimism" .. campaigning like they were in opposition and not the governing party for the last 2 years. They've had 2 years to give us hope and optimism, Starmer with his multiple resets, glossing over previous failures, this is just another reset bound for failure. It shows they just don't know what they are doing and are incapable of governing. Their main priorities seem to be changing laws to make it easier for them to stay in power because they can't win on merit.

@domdumdum5081 2 hours ago

We pay over 5% interest on our Debt, but will probably never grow GDP by over 2% PA again. There is no plan.

@stretfordender11 4 hours ago

Burnham is corrupt and unintelligent. He’s a proven liar already

@shirlhuffman6183 5 hours ago

It is somewhat shocking to me that there are 2 major parties in your country that are focusing on the past Here in America , we look towards the future

@nigel-v7z6t 5 hours ago

I sure it will be all right on the day...Skies will be blue and Everything Rosey in the Garden according to the Chancellor...

@TheGheddon 35 minutes ago

His chancellor looks like a banker from Harry Potter.

@ibukunogunfeitimi5645 8 hours ago

The right must be incredibly patient as we await the budget of a new direction to woo critics and transform markets as the bond market and other markets are learning from us with credible plans.

@blackbirds1983 2 hours ago

It won’t end with a single budget, it will be an accumulation of issues, the budget, rising gilt yields, a recession and a stock market crash with the AI bubble bursting, fuel prices, energy costs, potential power cuts,the societal cost of unchecked immigration, both legal and illegal which are draining the coffers and increasing crime, terrorism and antisemitism are all of which could sink him……..Or maybe something completely unexpected, a consequence of a butterfly 🦋 flapping its wings in the Amazon?

@sturdywordy1158 6 hours ago

Honeymoon period?

@skatebalder6436 3 hours ago

Labour was supposed to give the country hope 2 years ago - they have failed - they are useless and only know a bankrupt ideology of tax tax tax. Burnham and story teller; perhaps, but it’s rubbish, lies and waffle from a man that’s never run a business - let’s not give them any credit for governing whilst the country collapses!

@TimmySmoth 8 hours ago

It’s not Starmer’s manifesto, it’s the Labour Party’s and therefore Burnham’s manifesto. Everyone who said no need for a general election said we elect parties and manifestos, not people. Remember?!