𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Before we even get to the fever dream of rejoining the EU, or the disingenuous statements about bringing mass immigration down, here is why Andy Burnham would be an even greater disaster for the UK. As Mayor of Manchester, Burnham increased the city’s borrowing needs by a billion pounds and sits on £1.4billion of external debt, more than 800% of the local authority’s yearly revenue.

But he has borrowed all this from central government. That’s right: the Chancellor sent it up the M1 and M6 at a preferential rate. If however Burnham is elected MP for Makerfield, and is predictably coronated Prime Minister soon after by his colleagues, he will be in for an almighty shock.

In central government, he will have to consider markets, not just expect a wad of cash from the Treasury every time. This is a world where higher borrowing costs lead to yet more borrowing, more inflation, more debt and more debt interest. P*** the markets off and eventually Burnham will need to renege on his big spender promises, slam the brakes on spending, introduce cuts – by which point he’s p***ed off the Labour Left big style – and, by that point, the ‘king of the North’ will wish he’d never stood for Parliament again.

If Burnham really doesn’t want Britain to be in “hock” to the bond markets then he better start either raising taxes or slashing spending from day one. Otherwise we are in for a whole world of misery. If Burnham really does borrow more money to nationalise stuff – without significant spending cuts or tax increases – then he will increase the cost of all the new borrowing his future government does.

We know only Reform can stop Burnham in Makerfield and his red carpet to Number 10. A vote for any other Right-leaning party can only help Red Andy. If however Burnham triumps then we are in for a nightmare of gargantuan proportions. And remember: he has zero mandate for any of this!