Andy Burnham faces an impossible job. At least he’s got a secret weapon – Kemi Badenoch
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/sep/02/andy-burnham-faces-an-impossible-job-at-least-hes-got-a-secret-weapon-kemi-badenochLabour is up against a Tory party with a leader who can’t stop getting lost in her own sense of brilliance. And then there’s Andrew Griffith
Call it the gentlest of all reality checks. A quantum realignment in expectations. The faintest reminder to both Andy Burnham and Labour backbenchers that international bond markets are impervious to Manchester charm and positivity. Despite a summer of feelgood announcements from the government, there is no escaping the fact that the country is still up shit creek. It’s going to be a tough ride ahead. Nothing will come pain-free.
Still, a new prime minister has to learn to take the wins – however small – as they come along. In the wider scheme of things, a good prime minister’s questions means next to nothing: it’s nothing more than politics as performance. Yet it can set the tone and buy a prime minister some goodwill from MPs and the media. Plus, it’s a weekly event so you may as well be good at it.
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