A Labour MP has warned Andy Burnham is starting to sound just like Keir Starmer as the new Prime Minister hits the same economic brick wall.
Disillusioned backbenchers hoping for a total break from the miserable Starmer years are reportedly already being left gutted. After watching Burnham up close for almost two months, one unnamed politician told the Sun that the PM is even starting to "sound like Keir."
Economist's swipe at Downing Street
Economist Andy Haldane rubbed salt in the wounds this week by taking a massive swipe at Downing Street, branding the new setup a "traditional tax and spend socialist government with better TikToks."
Chancellor John Healey is claimed to be running into the same brutal Treasury landmines that blew up Rachel Reeves. Healey is boxed in by a strict promise not to hike income tax, national insurance or VAT and a pledge not to increase day-to-day borrowing. Meanwhile, Labour is said to be refusing to stomach spending cuts, as a battered economy acts as a drag anchor on growth.
Charm offensive in No10
Desperate to avoid being carted off like Reeves, one of Healey's top aides was reportedly spotted sneaking out to a Westminster pub for a few pints of Guinness with one of her old advisers for advice.
"The fundamentals are pretty hard," one frustrated MP said. "People are going to be poorer and frankly, the policy programme looks a lot like Rachel's." Another weary Labour MP called the whole mess "inevitable."
However, determined not to repeat Starmer's mistake of alienating his own backbenchers, Burnham has launched a charm offensive. No10 is hosting pre-Budget briefings for MPs to explain the grim situation before dropping difficult decisions.
"There's a lot more of 'this is the economic situation. This is what's going on'," one source said. Another said: "There's definitely a different atmosphere between the PLP and No10. The ones I've been to have been much more: 'Tell me what you think. Tell me what you're worried about.'"
Defence headache for Healey
One backbencher recalled how Burnham's team rushed to speak to him after a sticky question in the Commons. He said: "That would never have happened after Keir. And it makes a difference."
Former rebels insist the party is ready to bite the bullet. One told The Sun: "I think generally the media has underestimated the PLP's ability to take difficult decisions...At the same time, what is needed from Burnham is that there will have to be a serious commitment to get a grip on spending."
Defence is another massive headache Healey can't dodge. Having quit as Defence Secretary after Starmer refused to commit three per cent of GDP to defence, Healey now holds the purse strings. One Starmer ally said: "Healey literally accused Keir of putting the country in danger, and is wriggling now he's actually in the chair. It's outrageous."
Burnham is said to have bought himself "a little bit of time and trust", but as the Budget looms, the clock is ticking.
