JUDGEMENT DAY STARTS NOW
The king of the north has arrived in Westminster via a convenience stop in Makerfield. I have already congratulated Andy on his victory and I genuinely want him to do well for my country. If he fails to deliver for the UK we will all suffer and we will all pay a heavy price. The microscope will be on his every move, and just as Starmer's disastrous tenure in No.10 was framed by elementary errors from day one Andy's success or otherwise will equally be judged by his initial decisions.
His 55% share of the vote at the by election was nothing short of sensational. The good voters of Makerfield were well aware that they were electing more than just an MP to replace Josh Simons. This was a carefully and perfectly executed manoeuvre to remove Keir Starmer from Downing Street and replace him with Andy Burnham. Starmer was seen as toxic and an electoral liability as evidenced by disastrous local election results and reinforced by the results in the other 2 by elections held in Scotland on the 18th June. The photo of hundreds of Labour MPs in Westminster hall was the image of change that Andy was looking for and they delivered it in spades.
He can easily put a brake on the anticipated honeymoon by following Starmer's guide on how to deliver for Starmer and two fingers to the voters. I think Andy is too wise for that. There will be no freebie clothes from Lord Ali as Andy models himself more on President Zelensky's T K Max wardrobe, and he would be wise to avoid any Taylor Swift freebies or endless jaunts overseas.
His choice of Cabinet colleagues will present him with his first test, as there is no doubt he will have promised colleagues positions already. Errors here, and the crown will soon slip and so he has to show a ruthless streak.
If he caves into pressure to reappoint Angela Rayner or Louise Haigh to sit around the cabinet table then his critics will soon be mouthing their incredulity. Andy has over 400 MPs from which to choose from and veering towards damaged goods will be a bad look.
Getting rid of the toxic and the useless should be a first priority. This almost writes itself, but he owes no loyalty to those who have tainted the Starmer year and a bit in office. Thankyou and goodbye notes to a bunch of people soiling the project will lose him popularity with those departing but will gain him plaudits in the country. If part of the object of the game is to win the next election then getting this bit of the jigsaw right is essential. I suspect that a few will resign before July 16th in any event giving their exit some element of dignity. Everyone is expendable and toughness now will be rewarded later.
High on my list for the lavender letters of condolences on losing their jobs are Lord Hermer, David Lammy, Rachel Reeves, Peter Kyle, Steve Reed, Nick Thomas-Symonds, Stephen Doughty, and Mike Tapp for starters. Two new entrants , James Murray and Dan Jarvis should also be shelved for replacing Streeting and Healey who should be brought back in. Ed Miliband should be moved away from anything to do with energy and that includes the treasury.
Early policy decisions will be judged critically. These early policies will set the tone of Burnhamism and will either keep the show afloat or sink it. Attacking the welfare budget is essential to fulfilling other promises made during the 2024 general election.
In no particular order, dropping the insane and ill judged Chagos giveaway will save £35b. at a stroke. Drilling the North Sea for oil and gas will earn billions for the exchequer. Ditching the net zero obsession will also save billions for businesses and households alike. An emergency budget stripping out the benefit street culture must be a priority if money is to be made available for other vital spending like defence. Decent defences need proper financial support and this must be fast tracked. Ensure the civil service carry out your programme with alacrity if not enthusiasm.
Scrapping the vendetta against veterans will be seen as decent. Stopping the boats and repatriating illegal immigrants will also save billions. Soft touch Britain where huge sums of money is diverted to illegal immigrants is acting like a magnet attracting thousands more to come to our shores. Make entering the UK illegally a crime carrying a life time ban on legally entering our country.
Support entrepreneurs by reducing the employer national insurance increase put on in the last budget. This will act as a boost to businesses especially pubs and hospitality and it also has the merit of keeping the promise made by Starmer during the general election. Scrap the inheritance raid on farmers and family businesses which has caused so much heartache and pain. Look for incentives to welcome the wealthy back into the UK with their money. Starmer caused more than 16,000 millionaires to flee abroad which damaged the tax take and economy. Make the UK a world centre for Artificial Intelligence.
Scrap the proposed votes for 16 and 17 year olds which was just plain stupid. Announce Brexit dividend measures which will attract huge investment into the UK providing much needed new jobs. Embark on more trade deals and do not sign up to anything with the EU which restricts our capability to do free trade deals with the fastest growing economies which happen to be outside of the sclerotic European Union. Do not allow the UK to be salami sliced back into the EU institutions in any way thus respecting the 2016 vote, and keeping faith with the voters of Makerfield who voted 2/3rds to leave the EU.
End the two tier system of policing and justice ensuring that the law treats everyone the same. Build more prisons and stop the early release of prisoners. Protect the rural areas as you look to increase housing for young people. Make Britain proud of their flag, and proud of their country.
This should be enough to keep you going but there's just one other thing you should do to keep faith with the public and that is to follow your own advice to Rishi Sunak in 2022. Call an early general election. Seek the mandate which will give you authority for governing the country. Avoiding the election will anger many people who were never enamoured with your predecessor (only 33.7% voted for him) and will only result in compounded anger when the election finally comes.
Finally I wish you good luck on your endeavours and I really mean that!!
Nigel Evans
23 June 2026