Burnham’s bet on ‘Manchesterism’ won’t save Britain
The new prime minister may want to focus on domestic issues but will find it impossible to dodge external challenges as both are inextricable.
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Andy Burnham is the seventh British prime minister in a decade.
PHOTO: REUTERS
The people of Britain may be forgiven for concluding that they have been treated to this plot one time too many. A new prime minister comes to power promising radical change. They enjoy a few months of fame before their popularity sinks, their policies fail and it’s time for the next hapless individual to take the helm.
So, when Andrew Burnham – or Andy, as he likes to be called – made the traditional journey to Buckingham Palace at the start of this week to “kiss hands” and receive his appointment as prime minister from King Charles III, a cartoon made the rounds in the British press depicting him as a patient in the waiting room of a doctor’s surgery, being told by the king to take a ticket number and await his turn.
