In recent discussions about UK politics, Conor emphasizes a significant trend: candidates who are not criticized by the media often maintain the status quo. This perspective is shared by Jeremy Corbyn, who expressed concerns about Andy Burnham’s potential approach:
Jeremy Corbyn on Sky News today, talking about Andy Burnham:
“He doesn’t appear to be doing anything different internationally. I wrote to him to ask if he’d support something as straightforward as an inquiry into government policy on Gaza and the supply of weapons.” pic.twitter.com/vIzXjeAkxl
— Wokerati Marty (@WokeratiMarty) June 20, 2026
Moreover, Burnham has committed to retaining Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, who has been at the forefront of the crackdown on Palestine Action protesters, resulting in thousands being arrested and many facing terrorism charges.
By Richard Murphy, Emeritus Professor of Accounting Practice at Sheffield University Management School and a director of Tax Research LLP. Originally published at Funding the Future.
If Andy Burnham genuinely aims to be Prime Minister, it’s crucial for him to address several key questions. These inquiries will help determine whether he presents a substantial alternative to the existing government or simply represents a different face pursuing a similar agenda.
The focus should extend beyond his personality, competence, or electability. It’s essential to gauge his beliefs, proposed actions, and understanding of the challenges confronting the UK.
Below are 52 inquiries—culminating in one pivotal question—that I hope he will answer.
The Economy
1. What do you see as the primary purpose of the UK economy?
2. Should economic policy prioritize GDP growth or focus on wellbeing, security, and sustainability?
3. Do you believe the UK government faces financial constraints similar to those of households, businesses, or local authorities?
4. Do you accept that a government issuing its own currency can meet obligations in that currency?
5. What role do you think taxation plays in the economy: is it for revenue, redistribution, controlling inflation, shaping the market, or all of these?
6. What is your stance on the current fiscal rules; should they be retained, reformed, or abolished?
7. Would you continue paying interest on all commercial bank reserve balances held at the Bank of England?
8. How do you view quantitative easing and tightening?
9. What measures would you implement to enhance productivity in the UK economy?
10. How do you plan to reduce Britain’s reliance on rent extraction, financial speculation, and asset price inflation?
Wealth, Tax and Inequality
11. Is wealth inequality a more pressing issue than income inequality at this point?
12. What concrete measures would you introduce to tax wealth more effectively?
13. Should income earned from wealth be taxed as heavily as that earned from work?
14. How would you combat tax avoidance by large corporations and wealthy individuals?
15. What are your views on reforming inheritance tax?
16. How would you tackle regional inequality across the UK?
Housing
17. Should housing primarily serve as a home or an investment asset?
18. What steps would you take to lower house prices in relation to earnings?
19. How many social homes do you plan to build annually?
20. How will you finance a large-scale social housing initiative?
21. What reforms would you propose for the private rental market?
22. Would you support land value taxation or compulsory purchase reforms to address land speculation?
Climate and the Environment
23. Can economic growth align with environmental sustainability in your view?
24. What is your strategy for achieving net-zero emissions while retaining public support?
25. How do you plan to fund the transition to a low-carbon economy?
26. What role should public ownership have in energy generation, transmission, and distribution?
27. How will you ensure that the costs of the climate transition are evenly distributed?
28. What policies do you propose to restore biodiversity, waterways, and ecosystems?
Public Services and the State
29. What should be the balance between public and private provisions in healthcare?
30. Would you reverse the privatization measures undertaken in the NHS since 2012?
31. How do you plan to address the crisis in social care?
32. What educational reforms are on your agenda?
33. How would you restore local government after years of austerity?
34. What powers and funding would you devolve to local and regional governments, and would you support independence for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland if desired?
Work, Income and Social Security
35. What is your vision for the future of the workplace?
36. Do you advocate for enhanced trade union rights and sectoral collective bargaining?
37. How do you feel about implementing a job guarantee program?
38. How would you address economic insecurity among younger generations?
39. What reforms do you suggest for Universal Credit and the social security system as a whole?
Debt, Money and Finance
40. Do you regard national debt as a significant issue for the UK? Please elaborate.
41. How do you define government debt? Should it be reduced at all costs, or can it be increased for sound economic reasons?
42. How do you differentiate between productive public investment and regular spending?
43. What should be the role of government borrowing in financing infrastructure, housing, and climate initiatives?
44. Should the mandate of the Bank of England undergo reform? Should it continue to pay interest on central bank reserve accounts?
45. What changes would you introduce to the banking system?
Britain and the World
46. What should Britain’s economic relationship with Europe entail?
47. Which industrial strategy would you pursue?
48. How do you plan to address growing geopolitical instability and trade fragmentation?
49. What strategies do you propose for resolving conflicts in the Middle East, and what role should the UK play in this process?
50. How can Britain contribute to combating global inequality and climate change? 51. What does the future hold for our relationship with the USA and NATO, and what implications does that have for our defense policies?
The Biggest Question
Perhaps the most crucial inquiry of all is:
52. What is your theory of society?
This question is vital because every successful political initiative ultimately hinges on the answer:
- Neoliberalism starts with the emphasis on the individual.
- Conservatism focuses on institutions.
- Reform centers on identity and belonging.
- The Green agenda prioritizes nature and environmental issues.
- Traditionally, Labour began with solidarity, but that has diminished in significance.
Before asking for public support, Andy Burnham must clarify his starting point and priorities, as every subsequent policy choice will stem from this foundational answer. Isn’t clarity on this matter the least we can expect?
