Andy Burnham arriving in Kyiv this week in a T-shirt was crass and disrespectful, according to columnist Carole Malone. Every dignitary who turned up to meet him was in a suit, with one even in ceremonial dress, so the least Burnham could have done was ditch his "I'm just a working man" garb and dress like the Prime Minister he's supposed to be.
Zelensky is entitled to meet world leaders in his fatigues because it sends the message that while others are just looking on, his people are actually fighting and dying. Burnham, who looked underdressed, overwhelmed and completely out of his depth, was just trying – and failing – to look cool. Frankly, he was an embarrassment to Britain.
Burnham's Other Crusades
Malone also questioned whether Burnham knows Britain has a £3 trillion debt, noting his latest crusade (after bus fares and homelessness) is to put cowboy builders out of business. She said it's a great idea but the bloke needs to realise he's running a country not a local council.
She has yet to hear him talk about what he's going to do to slash the £3 trillion debt, tackle illegal immigration, the £400 billion benefits budget or the threat of Putin's "revenge" attack on Britain. She said she's terrified it's because he has no idea.
Burnham has also spent £1,000 of taxpayers' cash on a replica of the No 10 door that won't even be at the front of the building. Instead, it will be inside along with a cardboard cut-out of Larry the Cat. Just this month alone, the setting up of Number 10 North has cost £49,000. This is all just performative politics that costs money and achieves nothing.
Other Topics in the Column
Malone also commented on the death of Dolly Parton, saying her death matters in a way that few others do because we feel that one of the world's truly good souls has gone. She said Parton was supremely talented and one of the world's greatest songwriters, with philanthropy that helped millions of adults but especially children, and she created jobs for tens of thousands of people.
On Nicholas Hoult quitting his role in the new Harry Potter TV series after a backlash from fans and trans activists, Malone called him a "24-carat wimp". The Skins actor claimed his sudden departure was down to "scheduling conflicts" but not even his own fans are buying it, saying the excuse is lame and that just taking the role was a betrayal of the trans community. The role of Gilderoy Lockhart has now gone to the "delighted" Game of Thrones actor, Kit Harington.
Malone also wrote about Kaia Gerber, saying Cindy Crawford's daughter must be sick of being compared to her Mum, and suggested a "cultural exchange" sending the Beckhams to the US and having the Sussexes back.
On the NHS, she said it is teaching women in Barnstaple how to give birth in the backs of their cars because of "unsafe levels of staffing" at its maternity unit. She called this outrageous, noting the NHS gets £250 billion a year.
She also questioned why the shingles jab, which new research says could lower the risk of heart disease and strokes in the over-60s, is only available on the NHS to people turning 65 and those between 70-79. Under-65s and over-80s would have to pay £500 privately.
On the weather, she noted that after a month's rain fell in one night, the climate doom-mongers have had to put a sock in it. She said all that's happened is autumn is on its way after a gloriously hot summer.
