Labour's rural MPs fear neglect by Burnham

Andy Burnham has been urged to stop rural voters “drifting away” from Labour by a group of MPs cautioning against too much urban bias.  The ’King of the North’ was told by those representing countryside seats won by the party for the first time in 2024 not to treat their areas as peripheral.

A policy blueprint by the Labour Rural Research Group (LRRG), which has 40 MPs — about 10 per cent of the parliamentary party — said any devolution drive should not only benefit major urban centres.  The comments came in a report, due to be published on Tuesday, that criticised successive governments for treating rural areas as “economically marginal”.

James Naish, vice-chair of the LRRG, wrote: “The purpose of devolution shouldn’t simply be to shift power from Whitehall to major urban centres.  It should go much further and ensure that communities with different geographies, economies and needs are properly understood within national policy. Rural Britain cannot be treated as an afterthought, nor can urban policy simply be retrofitted to rural communities.”

He added that these communities “shouldn’t be seen as peripheral to national renewal” and that the next phase of Labour in government should not see them as areas requiring financial support.

Figures cited by the LRRG showed just 27 per cent of voters surveyed for its report were confident the government would strengthen its rural policy, while 40 per cent were not confident.

Although concern was voiced over the scale of the challenge Labour will face in rural seats at the next election, the LRRG said there was still a chance for Burnham to change the party’s fortunes.   Among the policies he was encouraged to consider were a business rates taper for rural and farm-based firms, as well as making it easier for farmers to diversify their property to boost income.

Burnham was urged to make rural Britain a separate part of the government’s tourism strategy and give communities more perks for hosting renewable energy infrastructure.

Guy Bland

How is Guy Bland, the fictitious Labour MP for the rural constituency of Borsetshire South getting on?  Readers may recall that he stood as a candidate in the hope of using it as a launch pad to get a better job in the charity sector and was to his surprise elected.

Bland had long ago given up any hope of defending the seat at the next election.   He is no fan of Andy Burnham and only belatedly and reluctantly nominated him as leader.  He realises that he is likely to lose his unpaid role as assistant whip for rural Labour MPs.

One remote hope is that as Burnham is the first Catholic prime minister and is therefore prevented by early 19th century legislation from undertaking ecclesiastical functions, perhaps Bland as an Anglican who lives in the cathedral close at Felpersham could undertake them on his behalf?

Gove's latest gaffe

Lord Michael Gove is infamous for his comment, 'I think this country has had enough of experts.'  Arguably the experts weren't so wrong about the economic costs of Brexit.

Yet the editorial in the latest Spectator refers to 'the dreary beachfronts of Jaywick and Frinton.'

Jaywick is admittedly the most economically and socially deprived location in England.  Yet Frinton always thought of itself as rather exclusive, perhaps less so these days.    There is now a fish and chip shop there which was banned for a long time.

Back in the 1950s, Frinton was a favourite destination for a summer day out, even more so when we moved to Essex.   There was just one road into the town controlled by a level crossing.

The front road leads on to the Greensward.   Admittedly, the predominantly Edwardian and inter war developments were marred by the construction of some off plan tower blocks in the 1960s.

The sandy beach was patrolled by 'beach inspectors' to ensure that there was no impropriety.   Our day always finished with a walk into Walton on the Naze where the pier offered traditional entertaiments.

Some years ago I took two of my then 18 year old granddaughers with the mum of one of them to stay in Walton.  They were thrilled to see the flat roofed Art Deco houses in one part of Frinton.

I had great difficulty in finding a local restaurant that would meet the up market tastes of my eldest granddaughter anywhere in Nigel Farage's constituency.  Eventually I located one in Frinton.

It was rather crowded and I was puzzled by the next door table constantly referring to 'going out'.  I thought this perhaps referred to the old slogan 'Harwich for the continent, Frinton for the incontinent.'

In fact they were talking about Brexit.

Who are the Establishment?

The term 'Establishment' was popularised by the journalist Henry Fairlie in 1955.  In those days there was arguably an Establishment, centred around the networking that occurred in the all male London clubs.  The Reform only admitted women in 1981 and Shirley Williams as a minister had to enter by the goods lift for a meeting.

I was invited to White's once by a senior Conservative politician and the food seemed reminiscent of what might be served in a boarding school.   No doubt it has improved.

The Anatomy of Britain published by Antony Sampson in 1962 captured this era well and subsequent editions mapped the changes.

If anything the Establishment has been replaced by a 'political class' of professional politicians.   Politics degree; research assistant to a MP; SPAD; think tank; Parliamentary candidate.  Whether this is step forward is a moot point.

These days one hears more about the 'deep state' which I thought had American origins.   However, Wikipedia tells me: 'Deep state is a term used for unauthorized secret networks of power operating within a government but independent of its political leadership, in pursuit of their own agendas and goals. Although the term originated in Turkey, various interpretations of the concept have emerged in other national contexts.'

An article in The Economist states: 'American pundits have often used “deep state” interchangeably with the bureaucracies of the military and spy agencies, especially those bits that leak against the government.'

It appears that both the Establishment and the deep state may be operating in Clacton, possibly through the person of Count Binface or the Official Monster Raving Loony Party.

But then 'the people' will no doubt strike a blow against the Refuse Party.   Who are 'the people'?  Do I count as one with my 2008 car?  I didn't go to Oxbridge, but I suppose I am disqualified through having voted Remain?

Count Binface launches manifesto

Count Binface has launched his manifesto for the by-election at Clacton.  But will he get to appear on Question Time?  Will he wear a special gold plated bin by the seaside?

 Knowing the area quite well, here are my suggestions of additional pledges:

• Bring back beach inspectors on Frinton beach
• Reinstate the railway on Walton Pier
• Statue of the Duke of Connaught on the Greensward at Frinton 
• Passport control at the one road across the railway at Frinton
• Restore second platform at Frinton station
• Rename Thorpe le Soken station as Farage On The Soak
• Bring back Claction Interval Service hauled by Britannia locomotives with toasted tea cakes served in the restaurant car in the afternoon

The plates shift to the north

I had a minor bit part in the development of metropolitan mayors.  I had no prior interest in the subject but was asked to chair a commission on the topic and I think that we produced a well-researched and balanced report that took account of experience outside the UK.

I was invited to a launch event at No.10.  Bozza arrive by bike late and sweating and was rude to Dave Cameron.  Hezza, an enthusiast for mayors, then laid into Bozza.

Dave was very keen on the idea and proposed setting up a committee of elected mayors that would meet at No.10.  He provisionally accepted our proposal of providing a PhD student to monitor its work.  He then delegated implementation to Grant Shapps.   Enough said.

As Andy Burnham headed south in his delayed unsealed Avanti express (with toilet changing facilities) it soon became apparent that rather than Lenin's call for 'all power to the soviets' it was going to be 'all power to the elected mayors.'

The 'King of the North' is proposing to move part of No.10's operations to Manchester.  It is worth reminding ourselves that there is more to the north than Manchester.   Leeds, Liverpool and Newcastle are proud cities and Hull is all too often forgotten.   There are some government offices in York and now in Darlington as well.

It is also worth remembering that the biggest share of tax revenue in the UK is contributed by London and the south-east.   Yet the region also has areas of severe deprivation.  Just think Jaywick Sands in Nigel Farage's constituency of Clacton.

Meanwhile, I would welcome further suggestions for renaming Euston Station:

• Finland Station
• King of the North Station
• Everton Station
• Starmer Halt (his constituency is, of course, named after two tube stations)

Hail the King of the North!

All the available evidence suggests that Andy Burnham is likely to win the Makerfield by-election tomorrow, although turnout could well be low.

The most likely scenario is that cabinet ministers will press Keir Starmer to stand down by September.  The absence of a contest means that Burnham's rather vague policy ideas will not be tested.

It's a big step up from being a city mayor to running a country as Boris found.  Much of the groundwork for the economic success of Manchester was laid by Burnham's predecessors.

Yes, he did sort the buses out, but his clean air and homelessness policies were less successful.

It's been difficult to make sense of his statements during the by-election, but he does not seem to understand the fiscal rules.   One moment he was promising to recompense the 'waspy women' then he realised that there was a £10 billion bill attached.

Professor Ford reckons that he is offering spendthrift vibes, but his policies will be much more cautious. However, voters will then soon be disappointed.

I would concede that Burnham is emotionally intelligent and voters are more inclined to see him as someone 'like us'.  The difficulty is that dealing with complex international issues and running a country is more demanding than being a bloke you would like to chat to over a pint.  If I was Burnham, I would offer to make Starmer foreign secretary for which there are two precedents.

The Spectator was saying last week what a wonderful leader Kemi Badenoch is, so why is an apparently decent Conservative candidate in Makerfield going to get a one to two per cent vote.   The Conervatives could, however, do quite well in Aberdeen South so their focus will be there.

Should I be ashamed of my cabal membership?

For the first time in my life, it has been said that I am a member of a cabal.   I had to look up what it meant and the (AI) definition is not very pleasant: 'A "cabal" is a small, secret group of people who conspire to promote their private interests or gain political power. The term carries negative connotations of intrigue, conspiracy, and exclusive plotting.'

The charge was made in the Financial Times by political scientist Philip Cowley in relation to all members of the Labour Party and their potential role in choosing the next prime minister.

To be fair to Philip, he was making a direct comparison with the similarly elderly and unaccountable Conservative Party membership which chose Liz Truss.   His most interesting point was about the 17 per cent or so of trade union members who pay the political levy and hence also get a vote.  No one knows very much about them, although my hunch would be that they lean left.

Philip didn't say how party leaders should be elected.  The Financial Times published my riposte in which I suggested that perhaps we should go back to the days when the chief whip called in cabinet ministers and asked 'Is it Wab or Hawold?'

On further reflection there is a case for reverting to election by MPs holding the party whip.  They know the candidates and they have to sustain the new leader in the Commons.  There could still be a poll of party members but it would be advisory, avoiding the risks of zealocracy or rule by activists.