Conservative councillor and Express columnist Mieka Smiles has declared that her hopes for Andy Burnham have already crumbled, accusing the Labour leader of failing at the first hurdle over his approach to welfare reform.
Burnham's Benefits Answer Dubbed 'Terrible'
Smiles, writing in the Express, said she had high hopes for Burnham as the next prime minister, the seventh in ten years, hoping he would have cross-party appeal to reduce the UK's reputation for rapid turnover. However, she stated that the wheels have come off before he has even taken office.
In his first proper interview with Andrew Marr, Burnham said he would not make 'crude cuts' to benefit levels. Instead, he plans to reduce the benefits bill by changing the education system to offer more technical qualifications and work placements for 16-year-olds. Smiles described his answer as 'lukewarm and wishy-washy' and 'terrible', saying Britain's problems won't wait 20 years for long-term solutions.
Welfare System Rewards 'Bludgers'
Smiles argued that Britain currently allows being on benefits to be a lucrative career option for many, and the welfare system has lost its original purpose of temporary support. She urged Burnham to tackle the ballooning benefits bill rather than kicking difficult decisions into the long grass.
She had earlier praised Burnham's promise of a Number 10 North and his insistence on supporting town centre businesses by cutting business rates for them and raising them on out-of-town warehouses. But she concluded that his stance on welfare has already undermined her confidence.
