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Sunday, 25 January 2026

It's the way he tells 'em

  

Andy Burnham opens door to Commons return and will seek to stand in by-election

In his letter to the NEC, which he shared on social media, Mr Burnham said the decision had been "difficult" but insisted he would support the work of the government "not undermine it" and that he had "passed on this assurance to the Prime Minister".


So Andy Burnham will "not undermine" the government and has "passed on this assurance to the Prime Minister". 

Strewth that's a grim joke, but it's the way he tells 'em.

 


His robust pride prevented him from experiencing any discouragement, but he was always irritated, and in that state of exaltation, at the same time factitious and natural, which is characteristic of comedians.

Gustave Flaubert - Sentimental Education (1869)


11 comments:

DAD said...

Door slammed shut by the NEC. Voting 8 - 1: only Lucy Powell voted for him to go ahead. Much knashing of teeth in the Labour lobbies.

dearieme said...

An AH! moment from the Times:

"Andrew Gwynne ... was sacked as a junior health minister, lost the whip and was put under investigation by parliament’s standards watchdog ...

He ­formally stood down after reaching an agreement about his ­pension, which would allow him to retire as an MP on medical grounds.

Doonhamer said...

Do not mention Birmingham. I think that Andy did once, but he is sure that he got away with it.
But seriously though, folks, I am sure that he has learned from his many, many mistakes in that unfortunate city and know has the experience to drive the UK into a new prosperous, enlightened, healthy new era. I am sure that Tone, aka Charles Anthony (hey, I'm just this guy.) Lynton Blair will help him.

James Higham said...

He lost the vote to come back.

A K Haart said...

DAD - oh dear, the candidate they choose instead now risks being known as "The Spare" - or even "Harry".

dearieme - I wonder if he used an argument such as "I'm not asking for a Keir Starmer level of pension privilege"?

Doonhamer - I'm not familiar with his Birmingham connection, what was that?

A K Haart said...

James - a decision which won't go away.

DiscoveredJoys said...

"Directly Elected Mayors and Police and Crime Commissioners must seek the express permission of Labour’s ruling body, the National Executive Committee, before seeking nomination as a Labour candidate for the Westminster Parliament in accordance with Chapter 5, Clause IV, 2 of the Labour Party Rule Book."

Stumbler really wanted to welcome him, but it was 'the rules' that said no.

A K Haart said...

DJ - it would be interesting to know why the NEC turned Burnham down with Stumbler being such a disaster.

DiscoveredJoys said...

Apparently Burnham was backed by Sadiq Kahn and Ed Miliband. We may yet find out we have been saved by Chapter 5, Clause IV, 2 of the Labour Party Rule Book.

dearieme said...

Because NEC members fancy their own chances of becoming leader?

A K Haart said...

DJ - oh dear, backing from Sadiq Kahn and Ed Miliband is a bit of a downer. On the other hand, backing from... oh...

dearieme - or they thought they could lose both the by-election and the election of a new mayor to Reform.