he sort has done tbf as he's saying he'll do this stuff after the next election not now.

So mandate thing will be there if they win.

I think he's been pretty smart tbh

But none of this triple lock/care service stuff is scheduled until 2030 so after the election is it ?

I think his point is to get it out there and start the discussion.

Without defending the level of the state pension, aren't people that rely solely on the state pension entitled to pension credit which tops them up to another level that they are deemed to require to live on ?

In which case, surely it would be that level that matters, irrespective of the triple lock.

what I am trying to say is
if the pension is £12K
it is deemed that you need £15K to live on
so you get £3K in pension credit
if the pension goes up with earnings, say £5%, to £12.6K
but the £15K goes up by inflation at 3% to £15.45K
then the poorest are only getting inflation despite the triple lock

I only read political stuff on this board and recall plenty of left wingers not liking him either, for Israel reasons. Is the thinking the same in the real world?

Seems like a thoroughly decent fella who won't be able to please everyone.

Apologies: that’s in response to Gordon Lee at 10.53.

I like Burnham - decent man- not in same league as Harold Wilson, or indeed Denis Healy, Roy Jenkins, Jim Callaghan…..

Starmer was a politician devoid of any political beliefs or philosophy. He thought he could sensible his way to fixing the country through some mild tinkering. He appeared terrified of his own shadow, never mind the right wing press, he was unable to set the direction or narrative due to this fear, and let Farage etc set it instead.

Burnham sees that so much of the country is broken, and has delivered a long term vision aligned with proper labour values and policies to address this. Exactly what should have been done the minute labour won a hefty majority. He has acknowledged he will be castigated in some quarters for the things he has announced and is planning for but he is willing to stand for something and take the chance rather than run scared of Farage and the mail etc, he is leading and wanting to take the country with him.

I can’t argue at all with those who won’t forgive Burnham for some of his past positions and his approach to Gaza etc, personally for me I am just thankful we have a labour PM, who isn’t running scared of the mail etc and has the courage to try and make the country better for people through tangible changes; he’s playing a blinder with farage and badenoch etc by showing their culture war nonsense up for the divisive and damaging stuff it is by refusing to engage with it and instead offering collaboration, showing they have nothing to offer but sniping.