PM’s City ’mare
ANDY Burnham is never shy of an opinion — whether it’s on buses, music or his favourite type of pub snack.
Indeed, there’s seemingly no question to which he won’t offer a folksy answer.
The problem is, he’s Prime Minister now, and his words have consequences.
Which is why it was an own goal for him to support Manchester City’s Abu Dhabi owners after they were found guilty of a £1billion cheating scandal that has rocked the world.
The rules of being in Government are clear: do not interfere with a judicial or independent regulatory process.
Football-lover Burnham has in the past forcefully stated that an independent regulator should oversee the game.
That — having been created by the Labour Government.
The first big decision it will face?
To determine whether, in light of City being found guilty of more than 100 Premier League financial rule breaches, its owners are “fit and proper”.
At the same time, — also an arm of Government — and the are coming under pressure to mount their own investigations into the club, who deny any wrongdoing.
By Manchester, he risked the perception of political interference.
Indeed, No10 was yesterday , stating that “there can’t be any suggestion that anyone is above the rules”.
Separately, Burnham also appears to have misread the room on this one.
The vast majority of fans want the Premier League to throw the book at the club for not playing fair — not go easy in case the owners walk away.
Make it work
KEMI Badenoch has thrown down the gauntlet to Labour in a high-stakes battle over Britain’s soaring welfare bill.
Andy Burnham is refusing to tackle the huge sums paid to skivers, and is preparing to target pensioner income by scrapping the triple lock.
The Tory leader, by contrast, will force under-25s to work or undergo intensive training rather than instantly signing on.
Britain is desperate for strong action to instil a proper work ethic in a generation that otherwise faces life on .
Kemi’s on the right track.
Debt trap
BRITAIN is stuck in a crippling debt spiral because of Government failure to bring spending under control.
Interest payments on the nation’s £3trillion overdraft have hit a 28-year high, triggering fears of a knock-on effect for mortgage bills.
We now spend twice as much just servicing the debt as we do on defence.
Things won’t get better until Labour stops maxing out the credit card.
