THE BURNHAM RECEIPTS: Andy Burnham’s Passionate Defence of New Labour and Blair’s Government
Andy Burnham passionately defended New Labour's legacy, arguing that the party made significant improvements in Britain from 1997 to 2010. He highlighted achievements such as the introduction of the national minimum wage and increased overseas aid, while acknowledging that not everything was perfect. Burnham contended that the Conservative Party's acceptance of these changes in their 2010 manifesto serves as proof of New Labour's positive impact on the country.
- ▪Burnham emphasized the divided nature of Britain before New Labour's rise to power.
- ▪He cited key achievements of the New Labour government, including the national minimum wage and the Climate Change Act.
- ▪Burnham argued that the Conservative Party's 2010 manifesto acknowledged the positive changes made by New Labour.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
“Britain was a divided place where the authorities held all the power. The 1980s was a decade when working-class culture and communities – football supporters, trade unionists – were demonised by parts of the press and the Conservative Party. That was the Britain that New Labour inherited, and it was to change that Britain that I went into politics… It was a Britain where the single biggest influence on your treatment and your life chances was the postcode of the bed you were born in. Because when Labour came to government in May 1997, public sector debt as a share of GDP was 42.5%, and when we got to 2007, before the crash, it was 36.2%… But think of the other things: the national minimum wage, the trebling of overseas aid, the first ever Climate Change Act.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Guido Fawkes.
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