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Chopper's Political Podcast Episode 108: Is Andy Burnham the man who can save Britain?
Jul 3, 2026
Sit back, pour yourself a drink and join GB News Political Editor Christopher Hope at his regular table where he will discuss the latest insider political intrigue and gossip with everyone from popstars to politicians.In this episode, Chopper discusses if Andy Burnham will be the man to turn Britain around if he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer as Prime Minister.
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Coming up on Chopper's Political Podcast
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He can't surely persist with this. I wear a tie and a shirt in Westminster and in Manchester I wear a T-shirt
0:20
Welcome back to Chopper's Political Podcast, where I bring you the best guest gossip news and stories
0:25
from our studios at GB News here in the heart of Westminster. My name is Christopher Hope and I'm GBN's political editor
0:32
Thank you for joining us. It's a big week. The question many are asking here in Westminster is who is the actual prime minister
0:42
When we had PMQs this week with Keir Starmer speaking, was he stepping in for Andy Burnham
0:49
It seems that really already power and attention is moving on to his successor
0:54
set to be Andy Burnham, the MP of the Mackey Field, and due to be appointed Prime Minister on the 20th of July
1:00
of course, crowned leader the week before. He's been talking about some of his areas he wants to do
1:05
and I was up in Manchester for that speech he gave earlier this week. No questions from journalists
1:10
But he did say things like he wants to create a number 10 for the north
1:14
and also greater devolution, more powers handed out to metro mayors like he used to be, and already some areas around the country
1:22
are demanding those powers. So with me to discuss just that is our own Queen of the North at GB News, Catherine Forster, our Chief Political Correspondent
1:31
Catherine, you are from the North. I am. Where is the North? Just for anybody who doesn't..
1:39
Is that really clear to me? Well, I think it is pretty clear. It's from Cheshire, Yorkshire, North, I would say
1:47
You draw a line from Chester across to Leeds. I would say that Stoke is in the Midlands and Nottinghamshire is in the Midlands
1:56
Birmingham is clearly in the Midlands. But South Yorkshire, Cheshire, to me, OK, is a grey area
2:03
But I think 16 million people in the north and how fabulous that finally everyone's talking about the north
2:11
And now we're hearing all these. Oh, don't be too northern focused, because what about the south and what about poor London
2:18
Well, welcome to the world of Northerners for many, many decades. Well, I'm from Liverpool, born there
2:24
Also from the north. I think I'm from the north. And certainly Stoke was the south, if you're in the news
2:30
But there has been a bit of a debate where the north is, and GB News viewers and listeners have been letting us know their view
2:36
We know what he means by he's called king of the north. He's done very well, Andy Berman in Manchester, with the B bus network
2:43
law and order I think has been broadly a success with a very strong chief constable appointed there
2:48
but is that enough preparation for running a country? I mean he wants to move focused doesn't he
2:55
to the north and have a number 10 of the north for example so we're going to find out pretty soon aren't we
3:01
because in two and a bit weeks he's going to be prime minister and who knows we know that his team told me
3:09
they really wanted to start in September The Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, is having none of it
3:14
So I think his attitude is, well, if you think you're going to do a better job than me, get on with it
3:19
And probably Keir Starmer will go on for a well-deserved summer holiday
3:24
But I think for all that there is a lot of outrage, rightly, I would say, about where is the mandate
3:31
25,000 people in Makerfield. You know, he hasn't been elected by the public
3:37
There's next to no scrutiny. He's ignored the press since he was elected and there's no contest
3:46
He's going to be just crowned and roll into number 10. Well, we think so. Al Kahn may step in
3:52
As things stand on Wednesday afternoon, he still could stand. And I think friends of his tell me he wants to just jiggle it up, shake it up
4:00
almost force the leading contender, Andy Burnham, to define what he means
4:05
So he's trying to keep the party waiting, maybe. Yeah, right. Whatever. Forget Al Khan. Sorry, Al, if you're listening
4:13
I'm sure you're fabulous. Who knows? I don't think it's going to happen
4:19
But of course, Andy Burnham would say, I was in government for a long time
4:24
I had many different roles. I have a lot of experience, a decade and a half in Westminster
4:29
10 years of running a great city. look at the growth rate in Manchester
4:33
double the national average, that he is very well qualified. And of course, we've just had a prime minister
4:38
that had plenty of time in opposition to think about a plan
4:43
but was new-ish to politics, having been a lawyer. And it didn't work out terribly well
4:49
No, it didn't. And of course, we're hearing this week from Morgan McSweeney. He's now speaking about what happened there
4:55
but already power's moving towards Andy Burnham. you know I saw him in Ashton Town Football Club in that speech
5:01
I think he was talking the game of having met people in Makerfield
5:06
he talked about HMO Britain House of Multiple Occupation Britain he stepped in this week
5:11
has needed a demand that a grooming gangs leader is deported you know the government says he can't be deported
5:16
because of the 1971 Immigration Act saying I can't do things is not what people want to hear
5:23
that Brexit was going to give power back to MPs politicians to respond to need. And so I think Burnham gets that frustration
5:33
He does, but it's one thing saying from the sidelines, let's sort this out. It's another
5:40
thing entirely trying to do it. But I think the number 10 North and the devolution agenda is
5:45
really interesting. His argument is Westminster isn't working, Whitehall is broken. The way to
5:51
get growth, improve living standards, he said, you know, across the country for every postcode
5:56
is to give power back to local people. They know much better than people in Westminster
6:02
what's needed in local communities. I think it's the same argument that took us out of the European
6:06
Union, really. But does it work? Because we've had devolution in Northern Ireland
6:13
in Scotland, in Wales. If you look at the record on health and education, for example, in Wales
6:20
it much worse than it is in England Look at Northern Ireland Actually Scotland is a disaster Terrible in Scotland They have this different curriculum that worked out very badly I think there less scrutiny Catherine
6:33
I think that's part of the problem. Certainly in Wales. When I was in Wales, they were saying, the media isn't as strong here
6:39
People aren't really watching, looking at the measurables and where they should be. Yeah, and the SNP was a one-party state
6:44
Scotland was a one-party state, effectively. And in Northern Ireland, we had long periods
6:48
where Parliament wasn't sitting in Stormont and economists looking at the stats have said that there's been no significant increase in growth
7:00
in those countries following devolution but of course what you can't prove is whether without
7:06
devolution their economic decline we don't know that no the idea don't know that is to provide a
7:13
local focus on things that matters to local people so why to all can't ignore the need for
7:18
a road widening or something locally. That's why you give a new focus
7:23
But Darren Jones, the Chief Secretary of the Prime Minister, he's warning that there could be duplication
7:28
that you could have officials doing the same thing in different parts of the country and echoing what's happening in Whitehall
7:33
So would it add to the cost of government, possibly? Well, potentially, yes
7:38
And of course, we're already having a massive reorganisation of local government that saw local elections cancelled
7:43
And I think there'd be plenty of people saying, is more politicians really the answer
7:50
But I think it is true that we are incredibly geographically unequal
7:54
We've got productivity in London and the South East that is sort of world class
7:59
where much of the rest of the country is very poor. And if you look at countries like France, Germany and Spain
8:10
they're sort of second tier cities, places like Munich, Frankfurt, Barcelona, compared to the capital city, they are much more economically productive than are cities like Birmingham or Leeds or whatever
8:30
And they are places where they do have much more devolution. So you can see an argument for it, but people thinking the country's not working and wanting things to get better
8:42
I don't think there'll be many ordinary people going, oh, what we need is a whole restructuring of like how power works
8:50
Yeah, it's it's very it's very aspirational. And of course, it would take a long time, I suspect, to do
8:57
but Andy Burnham having this number 10 north that he will spend some of the week in
9:04
and good luck trying to get work done on Avanti West Coast with the appalling Wi-Fi
9:09
or maybe he flies. I'm told he's living in his house in Makerfield
9:15
or maybe living in his place in Greater Manchester and will be..
9:19
Maybe a few nights a week in number 10. I mean, I was speaking to one of his northern queens
9:25
the other day at a party about this. And I was saying, I'm very intrigued
9:29
how this travelling is going to work. And I mean, we will find out
9:33
He's having a lot of fun, isn't he, at the moment? With TikTok videos, somebody mocked up a few AI versions
9:40
of number 10 in the North and he was judging them. And then the Tories did quite a clever attack ad
9:47
where they took his words and his scoring and put lots of awful pictures of Ed Miliband
9:52
And they're having a field day. I mean, the Tories are telling me that their dream really is for Ed Miliband to be appointed chancellor
9:59
But, of course, we won't know, will we? Because he said very clearly he's not telling anything
10:02
We'll have a week this coming weekend. I mean, I think Pat McFadden would balance the ticket in terms of reflecting both parties and also he's tough on benefits
10:13
Ed Miliband may not want his job, but he's divisive, to say the least
10:17
From where's recruiting? Can he be trusted? So I'm looking towards... I think that would be a very smart move because he's obviously experienced, he's steady and he doesn't want the prime minister
10:30
Like West Street obviously wants the prime minister's job. And Ed Miliband is a sort of lightning rod for many people that think he is far too crazy about net zero
10:41
I'm joined now by the founder and CEO of Tally Money, Cameron Parry
10:46
So what is Tally Money and what does it do? So you get an everyday account in your individual name, you get an account number and sort code
10:53
but instead of having an account denominated in pound sterling with your bank, you have
10:58
milligrams of gold, which we brand as Tally. The reason why we chose gold, everybody understands
11:03
gold, it's universally understood and accepted. It's been increasing at over 11% on average for
11:09
the last 25 years against the pound. In the last two years, it's up 60% against the pound
11:14
So if you had, you know, £10,000 in a tally account two years ago
11:17
it's now got £16,000 worth of value. The gold hasn't changed, but the value and your purchasing power has
11:25
So banks can't keep up with that performance. How easy is it to get a tally money account then
11:30
If you're a UK resident, it's really easy. Just go to your app store, download the app
11:35
You'll need photo ID. You can onboard yourself in a couple of minutes. Just your passport, your driving licence
11:40
Yep. And you're up and away. So you know what you're getting. It's very simple, low fees
11:46
It's transparent. There's no hidden fees. There's no effect spreads depending on the amount you put in
11:51
And you just get to go ahead and be productive in your daily life
11:55
build up your savings again because it's useful to do it now. I was going to say, so you don't necessarily
12:00
if people are watching this going, oh, it sounds a bit scary. You can open a tally money account, transfer
12:06
Is there a minimum amount you have to transfer? So you might think, I'm just going to play with this
12:10
I'm going to put 100 quid in it that I've got this month and I'm either going to spend it and see if I feel like I'm getting more value for money from my sale
12:16
from the things that I'm buying, or I'm going to save it and watch how that compares to maybe £100 in your current account
12:23
To find out more and to get an exclusive GB News offer, simply scan the QR code or click the link in the description
12:34
I'm going back to this point where he lives matters so much. I remember vividly when Nick Clegg was definitely Prime Minister in 2010
12:42
He lived in Putney stayed living in Putney but that didn last He was soon moving into a part of he lived he lived I think in Dover an office in Dover House where the Scotland office is and lives somewhere locally too because you need to be on site or things happen and you lose control I think
12:59
it's a good attempt at showing and putting the outside of London parts first
13:05
I'm not sure it'll last more than a year six months. And also
13:09
of course we've had like Boris Johnson's attempts at levelling up and putting like
13:13
treasury offices up in Darlington we've seen this before but putting a part
13:17
of number 10 up in Manchester. As you say, if there is a crisis
13:23
being a couple of hundred miles away is difficult. I mean, I remember Sakiya Starmer saying before he came into power
13:30
that Friday nights were sacrosanct, basically. Don't ask me to work on a Friday night
13:34
because I'm going to be with my family. But you and I know... Well, there's a faith reason, wasn't it
13:38
The Jewish faith on Friday nights was his thing. But you know how insane the Prime Minister's schedule is
13:45
We know from going on these foreign trips trips. So yeah, I don't know. We don't know exactly what the split. The other thing that
13:52
fascinates me is he got on that train in Manchester in his blue t-shirt as he fact-checked
13:59
Kevin Badenock and his jacket. He got off in his smart Westminster suit. How's that
14:05
going to work? I mean, we can't, he can't surely persist with this. I wear a tie and
14:11
a shirt in Westminster and in Manchester. It's also surface deep. The real problems have not gone away
14:19
No. You know, the challenge of finding five billion for defence, the welfare
14:23
budget, and even today this grooming gang leader, who Andy Burnham said, I want a home
14:29
secretary and a foreign secretary to send this person back to Pakistan where they came
14:33
from. But the government says we can't deport someone who's protected by the
14:36
1971 Immigration Act, the same provisions that have protected many individuals caught up in the wind rush crisis
14:43
I mean, you know, I think he's got this chance of saying things outside of government
14:48
but doing it is so much harder. Yeah, it's very easy when you're not the one
14:52
that ultimately responsible. So, you know, he said, and I thought it was very, you know, it's like most people feel like everyone
14:58
I want this vile criminal out of the country. When he becomes prime minister
15:04
ultimately it will be on him to make it happen. And yeah, as you've said, there's all sorts of problems
15:10
He's still got the same MPs. He's still got the same financial constraints. And now we find that this defence investment plan, which is so lacking, according to military bosses, has five billion missing
15:22
And then a whole load of other cuts that have yet to be identified. I was at a party last night with a Labour minister who is furious about a transport road link in his constituency being cancelled
15:37
he's spitting feathers. But Andy Burnham is committed to that NATO commitment
15:43
of tens of billion pounds more spending coming. And there's going to be some very hard, painful choices
15:51
And for all his talk of transforming the country, yeah, well, good luck with that
15:57
Whether it's a right or wrong to replace a leader without any debate of the policies
16:02
votes of even party members is frankly sorted now. that we've gone past that point
16:09
I mean, it could be that Andy Burnham does reorientate this government
16:12
into the regions that need the support that GBNU's viewers and listeners talk a lot about
16:17
I mean, we have to give them that benefit of the DAOs. We can't always give them a hard time
16:22
We can't be tin-eared to protest. I mean, look at the way the government's behaving
16:25
just today about this Grimmengang leader. They're saying, oh, we can't do it
16:30
The law says so. People voted, Catherine, in 2016 to give our politicians the powers
16:36
to do what they want to do. Don't hide behind laws when you can change them
16:40
That's why Parliament is sovereign. I just don't think that is understood
16:43
by the current incumbents in Downing Street. Yeah, people voted for Brexit
16:48
because take back control, those three magic words. And I think Andy Burnham's argument in essence
16:55
is take back control, local communities we know best. And I think the aims of trying to spread prosperity
17:05
and opportunity around the country are absolutely laudable. Difficult to do, but absolutely laudable
17:13
But look, people do like him. Vibes can carry you a long way
17:20
We've seen the polls, a bump. Sir John Curtis was telling us yesterday that he thinks that's more about the fact
17:27
that Starmer is going than about Andy Burnham specifically. But he is likeable. He is popular
17:35
It may be that they have a bit of a bounce that is sustained for a few months
17:41
Would he call a general election? I was talking to somebody the other day who just went absolutely not
17:46
that Andy Burnham has wanted to be prime minister for a couple of decades
17:51
Why on earth would he take the chance? But, well, we will see
17:57
Well, he'll take a chance because he will want to do things outside of the tram lines of that manifesto in 2024
18:04
Well, his team say that they can do a lot within it, they say
18:07
OK, that's what they say because they don't have an election. People might look at that and go, hang on, where's that in the manifesto
18:13
If the manifesto is silent on some things, like taking control of water companies or utility companies
18:19
does that mean you can go and do them without an election? That's why I think the whole constitutional nature of what's going on matters
18:26
And then, of course, if you have an election, you'll probably halve the majority or worse
18:30
so you're kind of sacking 100 Labour MPs. They weren't like that either
18:36
No. I mean, so I think it's fraught with risk. I do personally think there will be a King's speech in October
18:43
I think he'll have to do a new plan for government. He's got 40 bills published by Keir Starmer in May
18:50
I think that many of those are not what he wants to focus on in the final two and a half years of government
18:55
No, and he's going to come up against a lot of financial problems very quickly
19:00
And some of his economics team are saying ditch the triple lock
19:04
Well, he can't do that without a general election because it was a manifesto commitment
19:11
I mean all hell would be let loose and it would be a brave politician to to pledge that in a manifesto also wouldn it But also the defence spending that is going to be needed to get to 3 25 billion a year
19:26
Yeah. And that's 3P on the rates of income tax. And I do feel that
19:30
they box themselves in with that pledge not to put up tax on national insurance
19:36
you know, that, whatever. They may have no option because we saw the trouble
19:40
that Rachel Reeves got into trying to take a little bit from this group, a little bit from that group
19:44
half a billion from the farmers. Look at the chaos that that unleashed
19:48
So it may be that he has no choice in the end
19:52
or he could just say, look at the world, how it's changed, how dangerous it is
19:57
I'm very sorry. We're going to have to put a penny on your tax
20:01
to keep us safe. But you can't, the power of the manifesto in our politics
20:05
it has the power of the Bible. It is what is, you can't deviate from that
20:09
That is what is happening. The problem is we've spent 400 billion pounds
20:13
on COVID in three years and no one talks about it. Politicians, people, viewers, listeners
20:18
no one wants to talk about it, but that cost has been put onto them, onto the country's overdraft
20:23
Yeah. And really, you've got to raise one of those big three taxes to cover the cost of keeping everyone at home
20:28
in those three years, not withstanding the 100 billion on the energy price shot from the war in Ukraine
20:34
So there has to be an honest conversation. It didn't happen in July 24
20:38
I think it will have to happen again. And I think there will be an election
20:42
later this year or by May next year. Do you really? I mean, the Tories laid an elephant trap for Labour, didn't they
20:48
Because they took a 4p off national insurance. That was a massive tax cut and clearly an attempt to bribe voters
20:55
I don't think anybody gave them any credit for it. But it meant that that money was lost to Labour
21:02
And Labour, I think they would have won the election anyway, wouldn't they
21:05
They really would have won the election anyway. But it's made things very difficult
21:09
I'm sort of reluctant to make predictions about when an election is
21:13
All I will predict is that he will be PM and Al Karns will not get those 81 numbers
21:18
I'm wrong on virtual. I'm prepared to die on that hill. I literally, I think I said that Kirtan would fight next general election
21:25
Did you? Yeah. When did you say that? At some point this year. I'd like to say. I say things are wrong
21:30
NATO last year. It's so hard to forecast. It is so hard to forecast. It's a fool's game
21:34
But NATO last year, when the welfare rebellion, I thought then they will get rid of him
21:39
because he'd lost his authority. But yeah. It's a brutal game though, isn't it? Yeah
21:45
I was at a party last night and one of the number 10, big figures in number 10
21:49
was just stood in the corner on their own, on their phone because the power has left the building
21:56
It has. And it's with a guy up north. It does feel many ways. At Prime Minister's Questions
22:00
when we show on PMQs Live each week, Keir Starmer's standing in for Andy Burnham
22:05
I mean, it does feel that way. That's how power is. And we don't know anything things are announced by these other governments
22:12
We don't really know if they're going to be backed up by the next government. No, we really don't
22:18
And standing on Downing Street, it's only a week and a half ago, isn't it, when the Prime Minister made that speech
22:23
hundreds of Labour MPs looking jubilant and elated. You were there in the hall
22:28
Smiling, the king is dead, long live the king. Quite extraordinary. Very brutal
22:33
Power doesn't hang around here. No, but they've done it because like Boris Johnson
22:38
and when the herd moves, it moves. The Tories got rid of Boris Johnson because he thought he was going to cost them the election
22:45
Then, of course, members put Liz Truss in and that really cost them
22:50
Well, she was in a hurry and she had tested her ideas with the base
22:54
but she tried to do too much too quickly in that September, just after the late Queen
22:59
Well, you might say that. Of course, she would say it was all the fault of the left-leaning economic establishment
23:05
including the ST and the city. Anyway, how do we get on to Liz Truss
23:08
People are saying Burnham could be a bit like Liz Truss, by the way
23:12
There's a bit of Liz Truss in this about it, that's not tested, no one knows who he is outside of Greater Manchester
23:18
I mean, I've been attacked on Twitter for saying that, but he hasn't been around for the past nine years or so
23:24
He's been up in Greater Manchester. Voters, someone was saying to me, what was that again
23:31
It was like under-26s weren't a voter, knowing he was in government, would have been under the age of majority
23:38
the voting age in 20, when he was last running the country for Gordon Brown
23:42
in one of the government departments. So I think we assume he's well known
23:46
because we have to work in Westminster in the bubble we live in. How well is he known in Truro or bits of Kent or Aberdeen
23:54
And what's his view on oil and gas? I mean, there's so many areas we don't know anything about
23:58
I think the oil and gas, I think there's going to be a bit of drill, baby drill. If Ed Miliband becomes chancellor
24:04
obviously the markets might have kittens which is one reason why I think it may not
24:09
happen but he seems to be open to more drilling okay we'll be hearing from Andy Burnham I think he's talking
24:17
doing some interviews this week I've been texting people while talking to you trying to make sure
24:21
we're on that top table but we may not be but we're trying to ask you about it absolutely
24:25
thank you for joining us again Catherine Foster it's going to be an amazing time isn't it
24:30
yeah it really is it's five prime ministers in four years. Four years ago, Boris Johnson was still in Downing Street
24:40
It blows my mind. Fundamental problems don't change. No, partly because we keep getting rid of prime ministers
24:45
I mean, how is anything supposed to get done? Catherine Forster, thank you for joining us. Back to the studio for us both now
24:52
Thank you for joining us, whether you're watching or listening to our podcast. Thank you to my colleagues who make her happen
24:56
Rebecca Noons and George McMillan. Thank you to Mick Booker, the Edshaw director
25:00
who supports the podcast and others too. Stay in touch. Let us know what you think
25:05
about this podcast. Email us, chopper at gbnews.uk. Tweet about us, send us tweets
25:12
What's your tweet, Twitter handle, Catherine? Forster underscore K. Yes. I'm Christopher Hope
25:18
I'm more straightforward, but Forster underscore K also let you get all of your attention. Leave a review
25:23
and a five-star rating if you can where you find this podcast
25:28
That helps other people to find it. We know we're very popular. People love hearing from us, and we'll keep doing it for you
25:33
But for now, for me and Catherine, I'll be awake for the Andy Burnham coronation. Cheerio
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