U-TURN king Andy Burnham is fast becoming the Vicky Pollard of politics.
His flip-flops on a string of policy positions have left him metaphorically mouthing “Yeah, but, no, but . . . ” like the Little Britain character.
The Prime Minister’s latest about-face followed his claim on Sunday that .
The inference to many was that the Kremlin had swayed the result.
Just 24 hours later, Downing Street was forced to clarify that the Leave vote had been “legitimate”.
Conservative leader said: “The busiest job in Westminster is running after the PM with a dustpan and brush, sweeping up whatever he said five minutes earlier.”
Here, we look at some of his other corrections and clarifications . . .
WASPI WOMEN
CAMPAIGNING at the Makerfield by-election, Burnham pledged to “stick by the Waspi women because they deserve some recompense for the unfairness”.
Burnham said he felt “uncomfortable” when politicians were all holding up the Waspi Women’s banner and then got into government and didn’t do anything.
Some 3.6million women — who were left out of pocket after the age was equalised — appeared to have discovered their white knight.
Just 24 hours later, however, his spokesman revealed .
PERSONAL ALLOWANCE
AFTER winning in Makerfield, Burnham indicated that he might increase the personal tax-free allowance that has been frozen at £12,570 for five years.
Shortly before moving into No10, Burnham insisted it was “the thing I heard most on the doorsteps”.
Soon his team were frantically backpedalling. A source said the PM had shied away from making an announcement because of the cost.
A Burnham ally then added: “What he was saying is that people are feeling unheard”
DRINKING AT FOOTBALL
fan .
Describing the current drinking ban during men’s games as “discrimination”, he added: “I don’t think it’s fair for fans to be singled out”.
Our leader highlighted that fans watching at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium were able to drink in the stands.
However, the idea was swiftly placed on ice after the UK Football Policing Unit warned that violence and disorderly conduct from some fans was fuelled by alcohol.
SCOTTISH INDEPENDENCE
if there was “majority public support”. Burnham was accused by the Scottish Tories of “pulling the pin on a constitutional hand grenade”.
For more than a decade, PMs have rejected demands for a fresh referendum.
Burnham swiftly changed his mind and said a fresh poll was “off limits” after all.
REJOINING THE EU
WHEN he was fighting the Makerfield seat, Burnham insisted that “the last thing we should do right now is rerun” the arguments.
He added: “Britain will be stuck in a permanent rut if we’re just constantly arguing and people are pulling away from each other.
“It is time, surely, to bring people back together . . . ”
Then last month , despite Labour fighting the 2024 election pledging not to.
This week he has talked about little else — despite war in Europe and the Middle East, and a raging cost-of- living crisis.
The suspicion is that he is flirting with Brexit now to win back voters from Remainiacs who have switched over to the Greens or Lib Dems.
MANCHESTER CITY
BURNHAM triggered a huge row when , after the club were found guilty of more than 100 financial breaches.
He added: “They have been such a huge partner in the building of modern Manchester and obviously the building of into the global force it is.”
Accused of political interference, No10 had to clarify that the charges against Manchester City — which the club denies — were “serious” and “there can’t be any suggestion that anyone is above the rules”.
The extent of his ties to City are still emerging. The Prime Minister had insisted he only ever had one “significant” meeting with City chief Khaldoon Al Mubarak while serving as the mayor of Manchester.
But a Sun probe today uncovers two entries in a now-deleted register of interests revealing Burnham dined twice in a luxury hospitality suite at the Etihad.
