Andy Burnham is a man who is hard to hate, says Express columnist and Conservative councillor Mieka Smiles, but a looming crisis over his spending plans could overshadow his popularity.
Floating voters' verdict
Smiles, writing in her column, reveals that her in-laws, Babs and Geoff, who are her "political bellwethers" and typical floating voters, are sceptical about the new Prime Minister. Despite voting for both Labour and the Conservatives over the years, they detested Keir Starmer and are fans of Nigel Farage.
Smiles notes that Burnham, the former Manchester mayor turned PM, is likeable and northern, which bodes well for her as a Middlesbrough girl. She even admits to laughing along with his social media antics, where he and Chancellor John Healy rated popular bar snacks.
Poll bounce and scepticism
There has been a "Burnham bounce" in the polls, with some now putting Labour equal to or ahead of Reform and the Conservatives. However, Smiles asked her in-laws for their thoughts on the new PM with trepidation.
Babs was blunt: "He's full of c**p." Their scepticism centred on money, wanting to know exactly "where it was all coming from" for announcements like the £2 bus fare cap, business rates cuts for pubs, and VAT slashing on energy. They also believed he would be unable to cut benefits for the same reasons Starmer failed. Babs added, "And he has no mandate!"
Scrutiny ahead
Smiles predicts that after the summer holidays, scrutiny will shift from "dad dancing" to actual policy decisions. She warns Tories and Farage not to rest on their laurels, as voters often back a person as much as a party, and Burnham is proving hard to hate.
Chicken empathy museum
In other news, PETA activists propose turning a former KFC restaurant in Lancashire into a "chicken empathy museum" to encourage people to think about chickens' feelings. Dawn Carr, PETA's vice-president of vegan projects, said: "Such an attraction would turn a building once associated with selling the parts of dead chickens into one that celebrates the hearts of alive ones." Local Labour councillor Mary Belshaw called it a "novel idea," preferring it to another empty property.
Royal photo dump
Prince Harry and Meghan have returned to California, but Meghan posted a photo dump on Instagram with Cliff Richard's "Summer Holiday," including a picture of Althorp, where Princess Diana is laid to rest. The image shows Harry, Archie, and Lilibet with flowers. Smiles criticizes the oversharing, suggesting it does nothing to repair ruptured relationships.
