Andy Burnham may be a nice enough bloke, but the real political superpower is a willingness to be unpopular – something Mrs Thatcher had in spades, writes Mark Dolan. Odd, then, that he should attack her legacy, given she turned Britain from the sick man of Europe into a global economic, military and diplomatic powerhouse.
Economic concerns and Thatcher's record
Dolan questions whether Burnham aspires to the 5% growth seen under Thatcher in the late 80s, or to liberate the working class with Right to Buy, share ownership and school league tables. He notes the country lives beyond its means, paying £110bn a year just to service interest on debt – more than educating every child. Some 600,000 households are better off not working, nearly 11 million British adults are not active in the economy, inflation eats savings, public services crumble, borders are porous, and economic growth is elusive.
Dolan argues the country needs to cut the welfare bill, scrap Net Zero targets, sell own oil and gas, cut red tape, incentivise hiring and investment, and lower taxes. He claims none of this will happen under a PM who thinks the 70s were better than the 80s, and who wants to renationalise everything. He notes Scotland's nationalised water industry leaks a quarter of its supply.
Positive policies and criticisms
Dolan welcomes the £2 cap on bus fares, Burnham's seriousness on defence spending, and the retention of jury trials and scrapping of digital IDs. But he warns of higher taxes, more borrowing, lower growth, and says a second Number 10 in the north will not fix unemployment or the deficit. He criticises the VAT cut on household electricity bills, which saves £45 but bills rise by £94, calling it from the 'Diane Abbott school of economics'.
Burnham has supported Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, and Jeremy Corbyn – 'more journeys than Phileas Fogg', and the country is on the 'road to hell'.
Jameela Jamil's comments
Jameela Jamil declared on a US podcast that the British are 'truly the most evil people in history'. Dolan counters that Britain abolished the slave trade first and spent 60 years stopping others, gave the world industrial revolution, democracy, free markets, and rule of law, and the Empire matured into the Commonwealth. She also thinks the UK owes India £43trillion; Dolan notes she is British and presumably will write the first cheque.
Prince Harry's behaviour
Dolan asks how to solve Prince Harry, who lost a court case against the Daily Mail, then went on a sweary podcast introducing himself as 'Prince of England' and making lewd jokes. He seems hellbent on UK return but needs to grow up – Dolan sees a 'clown prince'.
Gary Lineker's wealth tax stance
Gary Lineker signed a letter with 120 millionaires demanding a 2% wealth tax on assets above £10m. Dolan notes Lineker fought HMRC over a £4.9m tax bill and won, and was the BBC's highest-paid star on £1.35m a year funded by licence fee. He says nobody stops him donating to the Treasury, but the point is to be seen wanting to. Lineker also likened government language on small boats to 1930s Germany, waved away October 7 as 'the Hamas thing', and shared a video about Zionism with a rat, which ended his BBC career. Dolan calls a wealth tax a terrible idea, as wealthy are portable.
Ed Miliband as Foreign Secretary
Dolan notes Burnham made Ed Miliband Foreign Secretary, who blocked punishment of Assad in 2013, enriched China through Net Zero devotion, called Donald Trump a 'racist, misogynistic, self confessed groper', and was known for the Ed Stone and a falling-out with a bacon sandwich. Dolan questions if he will make a good Foreign Secretary: 'Pigs might fly.'
