Labour’s almost messianic embrace of Andy Burnham, the near-crazed glint in the eyes of the party’s backbenchers when they whisper his name, is how I imagine fans of the Beatles in their heyday looked. It is the final proof, if proof were needed, of the clown world that is politics in the Labour party. Of course, the weight of expectation being put on a man who would barely qualify as a fourth rater will make the inevitable bloodbath all the more vicious and amusing when Burnham inevitably fails – and fails spectacularly.
Burnham is now being presented as some steady, statesmanlike, experienced figure waiting in the wings to ride in and rescue us
Yes, Burnham won the Makerfield by-election by a considerable amount. Yes, it was potentially a tough seat for Labour to win. But Reform handed it to him on a plate with a desperately poor candidate whom they had clearly failed to vet adequately. Is that all it takes to make you PM in the eyes of Labour MPs?
Burnham is now being presented as some steady, statesmanlike, experienced figure waiting in the wings to ride in and rescue us – a King Arthur out of Silbury Hill to save Britain in its darkest hour, the anointed King in the North. This is beyond satire, ludicrous beyond words. But it is happening. It is real. King Andy is going to be crowned PM, and far too many in the Labour party really believe he is some kind of messiah to let you sleep easily at night.
