There is a shift in the air. For the first time in a long while, politics feels different. Andy Burnham is doing something many thought impossible: he is bringing a little bit of hope back into British politics – the Burnham bounce. Zack Polanski briefly sparked that same feeling, but it was fleeting. With Burnham, it feels more tangible, more grounded, more likely to last.
For years, the country has been told it is broken beyond repair. Every debate descends into a competition over who can paint the bleakest picture. Each policy announcement is followed by tribal point-scoring. It is exhausting.
A Constructive Tone
Burnham appears to be trying something different. Rather than simply listing what is wrong with Britain, he talks about how to fix it. Whether you agree with every proposal is almost beside the point. What stands out is his tone – constructive and optimistic. That is exactly what the country has been crying out for.
One thing many politicians struggle with is admitting when an opponent has a good idea. Why is it so hard to say that something is worth considering? Blindly opposing everything the other side proposes is not a winning move; it is immature, shortsighted and insincere. Disagreement does not have to mean permanent warfare.
When the new Prime Minister sought cross-party talks on social care reform, inviting Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey, something refreshingly grown-up happened. Instead of walking out, they engaged. Badenoch made clear there were red lines she would not cross, but she also recognised that talking is better than shouting. That is how a mature democracy should function.
Westminster will not suddenly become one big happy family. Lasting consensus on Britain's biggest challenges remains unlikely. But for the first time in a long time, someone is trying to change the mood. Politics does not have to be fuelled by fear, division and endless outrage. It can also be driven by ambition, optimism and the belief that Britain's best days are not necessarily behind us.
Daily Expresso Hits a Milestone
There is also some good news from the podcast world. The Daily Expresso reached 3,388,950 YouTube views in June, making it the most-watched UK news podcast on the platform – all within nine months of launching.
To finish ahead of established shows like The Daily T from The Telegraph, The Rest Is Politics and The News Agents is something special. Those programmes have bigger teams, bigger budgets and years of head starts. But it would not happen without the audience. Many readers became loyal listeners and viewers. Thank you.
The team behind the scenes deserves enormous credit: George Gaston, Shabir Noorzai, Tyler Bentley, Ed Washington, Michael Thomas, James Walker and Sam Lister. The podcast focuses on honest conversations and a bit of banter, and it is working.
Football Under Threat
Gianni Infantino has turned football into a corporate circus. Money, marketing and television spectacle often seem to matter more than the game itself. The expanded North America World Cup only reinforced that feeling, from the scheduling to the endless commercialisation. It often felt like the beautiful game had become a billboard. Refereeing decisions also raised doubts about whether football's biggest stage is still a level playing field.
That is why UEFA's latest stand is welcome. Europe's 55 football associations have voted to boycott future World Cups if FIFA pushes ahead with plans to sell stakes in its competitions to private investors. Good.
Football does not belong to investment funds. It belongs to working-class supporters who fill the stands, travel thousands of miles and live every kick of every ball. Once the sport becomes just another financial asset, something priceless is lost.
