Burnham seeks bigger government role
6m
Andy Burnham’s economic agenda called for a larger government role in Britain, while critics said pension reform would conceal the cost of a new entitlement.
by Simon Usherwood Reposted by Jonathan Portes
Good read, if underplaying how we need to act, rather than just hope, when it comes to having an informed and engaged debate
🙏 "Think tankers like me were disappointed by the standard of debate last time round. Now, in the Burnham spirit, I am daring to hope."
✍️ @anandmenon.bsky.social reflects on the prospects of a second EU referendum and the risks of another low-quality public debate.
ukandeu.ac.uk/here-we-go-a...
✍️ @anandmenon.bsky.social reflects on the prospects of a second EU referendum and the risks of another low-quality public debate.
ukandeu.ac.uk/here-we-go-a...
Here we go again - UK in a changing Europe
Anand Menon reflects on the prospects of another EU referendum and the risks of repeating the low quality of public debate seen...
ukandeu.ac.uk
October 2, 2026 at 10:25 AM
Good read, if underplaying how we need to act, rather than just hope, when it comes to having an informed and engaged debate
by Thomas Pope
My latest for @instituteforgovernment.org.uk applauds Andy Burnham for tackling the absurdity of the triple lock.
He will need to show more of the same boldness at the budget and beyond to properly fund his social care reform and other priorities
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/burn...
He will need to show more of the same boldness at the budget and beyond to properly fund his social care reform and other priorities
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/burn...
Burnham should follow triple lock reforms with more boldness on other fiscal problems | Institute for Government
The PM is right to reform the pensions triple lock.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
October 2, 2026 at 1:13 PM
My latest for @instituteforgovernment.org.uk applauds Andy Burnham for tackling the absurdity of the triple lock.
He will need to show more of the same boldness at the budget and beyond to properly fund his social care reform and other priorities
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/burn...
He will need to show more of the same boldness at the budget and beyond to properly fund his social care reform and other priorities
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/burn...
Reposted by Anand Menon, Simon Usherwood, Jonathan Portes
🙏 "Think tankers like me were disappointed by the standard of debate last time round. Now, in the Burnham spirit, I am daring to hope."
✍️ @anandmenon.bsky.social reflects on the prospects of a second EU referendum and the risks of another low-quality public debate.
ukandeu.ac.uk/here-we-go-a...
✍️ @anandmenon.bsky.social reflects on the prospects of a second EU referendum and the risks of another low-quality public debate.
ukandeu.ac.uk/here-we-go-a...
Here we go again - UK in a changing Europe
Anand Menon reflects on the prospects of another EU referendum and the risks of repeating the low quality of public debate seen...
ukandeu.ac.uk
October 2, 2026 at 9:14 AM
🙏 "Think tankers like me were disappointed by the standard of debate last time round. Now, in the Burnham spirit, I am daring to hope."
✍️ @anandmenon.bsky.social reflects on the prospects of a second EU referendum and the risks of another low-quality public debate.
ukandeu.ac.uk/here-we-go-a...
✍️ @anandmenon.bsky.social reflects on the prospects of a second EU referendum and the risks of another low-quality public debate.
ukandeu.ac.uk/here-we-go-a...
by Prem Sikka
Millions of UK workers withdrawing from pension schemes to make ends meet
Consequence of low wages and high cost of living forcing people into hardship choices - living now v income in retirement.
They will have lower private pension in later life and state pension isn't enough even now.
Consequence of low wages and high cost of living forcing people into hardship choices - living now v income in retirement.
They will have lower private pension in later life and state pension isn't enough even now.
Why Gen Z are opting out of workplace pensions
A growing number of people are opting out of these schemes due to cost-of-living pressures.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 2, 2026 at 7:54 AM
Millions of UK workers withdrawing from pension schemes to make ends meet
Consequence of low wages and high cost of living forcing people into hardship choices - living now v income in retirement.
They will have lower private pension in later life and state pension isn't enough even now.
Consequence of low wages and high cost of living forcing people into hardship choices - living now v income in retirement.
They will have lower private pension in later life and state pension isn't enough even now.
by Ruth Patrick Reposted by Stuart White
Here’s hoping this is not the ‘new philosophy of social security’ Burnham trailed in Liverpool.
A generation of young people are being failed by our threadbare public realm. Invest in fixing that and in supporting them.
Axing social security is not the answer
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
A generation of young people are being failed by our threadbare public realm. Invest in fixing that and in supporting them.
Axing social security is not the answer
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Key disability benefit for young people may be axed under major welfare changes
Exclusive: Plan under discussion involves intensive support to help young people into employment
www.theguardian.com
October 2, 2026 at 5:55 AM
Here’s hoping this is not the ‘new philosophy of social security’ Burnham trailed in Liverpool.
A generation of young people are being failed by our threadbare public realm. Invest in fixing that and in supporting them.
Axing social security is not the answer
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
A generation of young people are being failed by our threadbare public realm. Invest in fixing that and in supporting them.
Axing social security is not the answer
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
by James Scott
Agree. Suspect Burnhamism’s ambition to build an anti-populist left coalition will suffer the same fate as Bidenomics because the geomacro context prevents it from delivering the economic goods quickly enough
October 2, 2026 at 10:58 AM
Agree. Suspect Burnhamism’s ambition to build an anti-populist left coalition will suffer the same fate as Bidenomics because the geomacro context prevents it from delivering the economic goods quickly enough
Reposted by Will Jennings
Mildly surprised how many people think "yeah Burnham's speech went down well but did you not notice how he failed to solve the (checks notes) 20 year growth and fiscal problems he inherited" is a devastating and insightful critique.
October 2, 2026 at 7:04 AM
Mildly surprised how many people think "yeah Burnham's speech went down well but did you not notice how he failed to solve the (checks notes) 20 year growth and fiscal problems he inherited" is a devastating and insightful critique.
So Conservatives are trying to educate the British public about how terrible the 1970s were and Reform is obsessed with how we think about the British Empire. The future is clearly safe in their hands.
October 2, 2026 at 12:08 PM
So Conservatives are trying to educate the British public about how terrible the 1970s were and Reform is obsessed with how we think about the British Empire. The future is clearly safe in their hands.
by Jill Rutter
Brave, prime minister. @andyburnham.bsky.social has opened the door to a debate about the UK's future relationship with the EU. He may be setting off on a long and winding road to get back in... me for @instituteforgovernment.org.uk www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/andy...
Andy Burnham has opened the door to EU membership | Institute for Government
It is far from clear that there is a path to a consensus on Europe.
www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk
October 2, 2026 at 10:21 AM
Brave, prime minister. @andyburnham.bsky.social has opened the door to a debate about the UK's future relationship with the EU. He may be setting off on a long and winding road to get back in... me for @instituteforgovernment.org.uk www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/andy...
by Bob Hudson
What puerile politics! Burnham’s continuing appeals for cross-party talks are a refreshing alternative.
October 2, 2026 at 2:21 PM
What puerile politics! Burnham’s continuing appeals for cross-party talks are a refreshing alternative.
Many thanks for saying this, Helene. And think your wider point is spot on too.
Anyway if you are interested in the union (side-note: you should be if you are interested in the future of the UK), read @michaelkenny.bsky.social ’s excellent "Fractured Union” @hurstpublishers.bsky.social
October 2, 2026 at 7:40 AM
Many thanks for saying this, Helene. And think your wider point is spot on too.
She can’t envisage planning
Latest Badenoch: “If [Andy Burnham]’s not calling an election, why’s he talking about things happening in 2030?” - alarming the extent to which so much of our political class cannot process the idea of “planning for events four years in the future”.
October 2, 2026 at 11:03 AM
She can’t envisage planning
by Peter Cook
Labour’s #Brexit is clearly not bad enough for Burnham to deal with it.
And voting is an irrational behaviour as proved by the referendum.
Should I vote #ReformUK to ensure that Labour learns to lead?
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FZLQW9TQ
And voting is an irrational behaviour as proved by the referendum.
Should I vote #ReformUK to ensure that Labour learns to lead?
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FZLQW9TQ
October 2, 2026 at 9:32 AM
Labour’s #Brexit is clearly not bad enough for Burnham to deal with it.
And voting is an irrational behaviour as proved by the referendum.
Should I vote #ReformUK to ensure that Labour learns to lead?
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FZLQW9TQ
And voting is an irrational behaviour as proved by the referendum.
Should I vote #ReformUK to ensure that Labour learns to lead?
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FZLQW9TQ