The praise for Andy Burnham was effusive: ‘He has articulated a clear social-democratic vision for Britain.
asserted
He → articulate → Britain
And attacks about returning the country back to the 1970s won’t work because most voters can’t remember or don’t even know about the 1970s.’
asserted
voters → return → 1970s
Yet what was most surprising was that this message to me came from a senior figure within Reform.
asserted
message → come → Reform
‘The biggest shame for me was Burnham getting the bounce on the triple-lock.
asserted
Burnham → get → lock
That’s something we should have grasped the nettle on to show we’re different, and willing to do tough things,’ he added.
asserted
he → ’ → things
His words were echoed by another unexpected source: a senior Tory shadow minister who told me: ‘That was very powerful.
asserted
That → echo → me
I think the policies are fundamentally wrong, but it was bold, big-vision stuff.
asserted
it → think → ?
‘We’re going to have to think seriously about how we respond.
asserted
we → go → ?
Burnham’s proving more effective than I suspected.’
Yesterday the enthusiastic cheers that greeted Burnham’s maiden speech as Labour leader were replaced by hard questions.
asserted
that → prove → questions
A number of which he’s struggled to answer.
asserted
he → struggle → which
Asked on BBC Radio 4 Today about his decision to scrap the triple lock on state pensions, he replied: ‘That’s not quite right.
asserted
That → ask → pensions
I’ve said that we will make an adjustment to the triple lock.
asserted
we → say → lock
‘Now you might say that sounds like clever politician-speak.’
uncertain
that → say → speak
It did.
asserted
It → do → ?
And for a Prime Minister basing his entire political strategy around a pledge to speak truth to power – and the people – it was a clumsy evasion.
asserted
it → base → power
Andy Burnham delivers his keynote speech on day three of the Labour Party Conference
Andy Burnham’s critics are right to point out that much of his rhetoric on Tuesday represented a throwback to the red-in-tooth-and-claw socialism of the 1970s, writes Dan Hodges
Similar confusion surrounded his stance on Europe.
asserted
confusion → deliver → Europe
On Tuesday, the PM revealed that rejoining the EU was an option under active consideration.
asserted
rejoining → reveal → consideration
But as recently as May, he declared: ‘I am not proposing that the UK considers rejoining the EU.
uncertain
UK → declare → EU
I respect the decision that was made at the referendum.’
asserted
that → respect → referendum
Although the obfuscation may be embarrassing, there is no point people on the Right sticking their heads in the sand.
uncertain
people → be → sand
Like it or not, on Tuesday the Prime Minister seized control of the political agenda.
asserted
Minister → like → agenda
In the hours after his speech, Survation commissioned a poll of his triple-lock proposal.
asserted
Survation → commission → proposal
Some 64 per cent supported it, while only 15 per cent were opposed.
asserted
cent → support → it
What’s more, backing for his plan transcended the age groups.
asserted
backing → ’ → groups
Among those aged 55 to 64, 61 per cent said the idea was right, while only 16 per cent demurred.
asserted
cent → age → those
And even among pensioners themselves, 55 per cent agreed with the proposal, with only 27 per cent against.
asserted
cent → agree → proposal
Andy Burnham’s critics are right to point out that much of his rhetoric on Tuesday represented a throwback to the red-in-tooth-and-claw socialism of the 1970s.
asserted
much → point → 1970s
But they must also recognise the mood of a country that is now desperate for change.
asserted
that → recognise → change
Go into any pub or supermarket, and ask those present what they think of the privatised utility firms.
asserted
they → go → firms
You will not hear a passionate defence of Thatcherite free-market liberalisation.
asserted
You → hear → liberalisation
Instead people will spit at the mere mention of their names, demand these companies are renationalised, and call for their executives to be slung in jail.
asserted
executives → spit → jail
A similar response will – in many quarters – greet anyone trying to defend Brexit.
asserted
response → greet → Brexit
The word has become synonymous with political betrayal.
asserted
word → become → betrayal
As Burnham correctly pointed out, the claim that those who backed leaving had ‘taken back control’ of their country is now widely viewed even by a majority of Leave voters, never mind Remainers, as a cruel joke.
uncertain
who → point → joke
Earlier in the week a pollster published a ‘word cloud’ of perceptions of the Prime Minister.
asserted
pollster → publish → Minister
But one stood out: ‘Different’.
asserted
one → stand → ?
An ability to secure the mantle of change is the most desired in modern politics.
asserted
ability → secure → politics
And Andy Burnham appears to have seized it with both hands.
asserted
Burnham → appear → hands
This means the Right are going to need to have a very clear strategy from here.
asserted
Right → mean → strategy
Reform are all but absenting themselves from the fight.
asserted
Reform → absent → fight
…and 28 more, not listed.
The Aporia
