New Prime Minister Andy Burnham has been accused of making his first big mistake after a series of U-turns on the Manchester City cheating crisis, with critics comparing him to his indecisive predecessor Sir Keir Starmer.
Sir Keir was exposed as a serial flip-flopper during his time in office, performing humiliating U-turns on National Insurance, benefit cuts, winter fuel payments and even the definition of 'what is a woman'. Now Burnham is giving the impression he could become the field marshal of flip-flops after performing an astounding flip-flop-flip.
Burnham's Everton and Manchester links
Burnham is an Evertonian, and Everton were docked points for breaching Premier League spending rules. But he was also Mayor of Greater Manchester as money from Abu Dhabi developed swathes of land in east Manchester by City's stadium.
It could be argued that Burnham's glittering image as mayor owes plenty to the success of the huge investment in the city by Sheikh Mansour's Abu Dhabi United Group from 2008 onwards. As mayor, Burnham boasted Manchester City as a trophy-winning brand he could use to 'sell' his city around the world to potential investors.
The flip, the flop and the flip-flop-flip
On Wednesday, asked by the BBC if he was worried City's Abu Dhabi owners may sell up now the club has been found guilty of cheating by an independent panel, Burnham said: "Well, I would be really concerned to lose them. They've been such a huge partner in the building of modern Manchester."
He added: "I can't intervene more in the process. It would be wrong for me to do that. It would be wrong, I think, to jump to a conclusion before having really studied all of the detail, but obviously it's ongoing, and because it's still contested by Manchester City, then I think it's right that I don't say much more."
Then, appearing to offer sympathy to the cheating club, he said: "I remember people proclaiming Everton guilty at the time and, with hindsight, I think more people would say that wasn't fair the way that was handled."
On Thursday, 10 Downing Street issued a clarification, saying: "As the prime minister made clear, the initial judgement is serious and there can't be any suggestion that anyone is above the rules."
The statement continued: "He also stressed that it is an ongoing independent process. It is essential that it is allowed to run its course and the outcome respected. If wrongdoing is established, those responsible should face the appropriate consequences."
An hour later, another clarification was issued and the statement was re-issued with "If" changed to "wherever."
Criticism of the PM's approach
The PM appears to publicly question the panel's ruling by saying it is "ongoing and still contested by Manchester City" and offering City sympathy by discussing what happened to Everton.
It is ironic that a man who has spent most of this year avoiding tough media questions, and only speaking to friendly outlets, should open up to the BBC and make a complete mess of it all. Andy Burnham is starting to look like a second-rate Keir Starmer already.
