Carole Malone has launched a blistering attack on incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham, branding him the 'Messiah with No Mandate' and accusing him of running scared from media scrutiny. In an opinion piece for the Express, Malone argues that Burnham, who will enter Downing Street on Monday, has no democratic legitimacy, having secured the Labour leadership without a contest.
Burnham's Path to Power
Malone writes that Burnham's elevation is based on just 24,000 votes from his Makerfield constituency and the machinations of Labour's 'corrupt elite', who prevented any challenger from standing. 'THAT isn’t democracy. That’s a bunch of arrogant, entitled Left-wingers thinking they know what’s best for the “idiot” electorate,' she states.
She questions why no leadership contest was held, suggesting the party wanted to avoid exposing Burnham's weaknesses. 'Those of us who remember him in government know him to be indecisive, lacklustre and unimpressive,' Malone adds.
Media Avoidance and Policy Vacuity
According to Malone, Burnham has done only three media interviews since winning the leadership: one with Victoria Derbyshire, who 'tore him apart on the fiscal rules (he didn’t know them)', a tame session with Andrew Marr, and a chat with Gary Lineker focused on Gaza. She derides Burnham's foreign policy experience, asking if he thinks calling for a ceasefire would have swayed Benjamin Netanyahu.
Malone describes Burnham's recent statements as 'vacuous platitudes' such as 'I’m going to do politics differently' and 'I’ll have the courage to fix the big things'. She notes the IMF has warned Britain cannot afford a spending binge, yet Burnham plans to spend billions on devolution, a northern No. 10, and nationalising Thames Water.
Cabinet Concerns and Democratic Disgrace
Malone highlights that Burnham's right-hand woman is convicted fraudster Louise Haigh, who will run the Cabinet Office, and that Ed Miliband, with his 'lunatic net-zero policies', may become Chancellor. She claims there is already unrest in Westminster over the lack of direction in Burnham's inner circle.
Concluding, Malone writes: 'It’s a democratic disgrace that ‘Blank Sheet’ Burnham gets to walk into No. 10 untested, untried and unchallenged. Because being a big shot in Manchester is a million miles away from commanding the national and international stage.' She admits she would like to be wrong but fears she is not.
