Can Burnham banish Maggie's ghost?
The article discusses the enduring legacy of Margaret Thatcher and its impact on contemporary British politics. It highlights how figures like Andy Burnham are attempting to address the economic and social issues attributed to Thatcherism. The piece also reflects on the cultural significance of Thatcher's memory, particularly in the context of a play about her life being performed in Liverpool.
- ▪Margaret Thatcher's legacy is often associated with neoliberalism, which has been critically reassessed in recent years.
- ▪Andy Burnham's campaign video references the negative effects of Thatcher's government on provincial Britain, including deindustrialization.
- ▪The article reflects on the cultural response to Thatcher's death, including a play about her life being performed at Liverpool's Everyman Theater.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Can Burnham banish Maggie's ghost? She’s the root of Labour’s woes 'At least I knew who the enemy was.' (Ben Stansell/AFP/Getty) 'At least I knew who the enemy was.' (Ben Stansell/AFP/Getty) LeftNew LabourPoliticsRightThatcher Jonny Ball May 23 2026 - 12:15am 7 mins In 2013, I attended a Margaret Thatcher death party in Brixton. At the age of 23, perhaps I should have known better. Politically, I was in an extended-adolescence phase of edgelordism — jumping chaotically between anarchism and a post-ironic Stalinism, with teenage rebellion stuck on permanent default mode, fueled by high London rents, low London pay, and a nagging sense of self-righteous, insufferably graduate-class grievance.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at UnHerd.
