Andy Burnham was a Blairite under Blair, a Brownite under Brown, a Corbynista when Corbyn was leader. More recently he has posed as an apostle of the soft left, but he is beginning to pivot on some of the socialist policies he previously advocated. The only constant in his political life is a deep desire to become prime minister. But to do what? In his victory speech he spoke of change. What change does he have in mind? The first indications are that he wishes to renationalise the utilities, starting with water, and to lower household bills through state subventions. All this costs money. Where is the money coming from? In the absence of cuts in welfare expenditure, which his allies on the left would not allow him to make, any more than they allowed Starmer, the money can only come from increased borrowing or increased taxes, both of which are bad for the economy. If he becomes prime minister, that is precisely what the Treasury will tell him. He will be forced to abandon the socialist policies which he advocated to win the leadership of the party and he will be excoriated by his former allies as a traitor, just like Starmer.
Steven Rose ● 1d