Quote Originally Posted by ramAnag View Post
Think you may be being a little harsh on Burnham, Swale, although I do agree with you about Starmer and thought his stance and the way he spoke about the Greenland situation in the middle of last week was particularly impressive and statesmanlike.

It may be worth contrasting the mealy mouthed words of the likes of Jenrick and Braverman as they abandoned ship for Reform - increasingly a care home for disgruntled wannabe former Tory leadership candidates - with Burnham who appears to have handled his recent disappointment with rather more dignity.
I probably am to an extent, its just the sniping from the sidelines, the blatant positioning himself as the possible messiah that grinds. Its also not a good game to play is it? Surely get back as an MP, then build up ones support and reputation quietly and if an opportunity arises go for it. But then in politics these days naked self ambition overides the need for a political pary to pull together it seems. The way he announced his wish to be selected in the media, why? Just put your application in and keep quiet. It all smacks of grandstanding to me.

I realise that all political parties are compromises, a way of getting people with similar views but often very different approaches or beliefs in how those views should be put into action, but that requires compromise in order to succeed. Which incidentally makes GP's view on the person as a representative rather than a political party more than a bit naive.

To achieve most things, people have to work together and thats never more true than in politics. Governing a country where a good proportion of the population won't agree with the governments philosophy, always assuming they actually think much beyond wanting instant solutions to complex issues of course, is hard enough at the best of times.