Andy Burnham is our prime minister. Third time was, indeed, the charm for the ruthlessly ambitious career politician who has been treated as the king across the water for some time. That’s not a criticism. Ambition is important, but I don’t quite understand some of the people buying into his contrived persona of a happy-go-lucky cheeky northern chappy.
Now, he’s opened his “No. 10 of the North”. The idea of decentralising the power of the UK government is admirable. Not everything needs to be in London. That said, this is the UK government, not the English government. It therefore confuses me that Manchester, not even 40% of the way up the country, is deemed the place for a “northern” office. I would have to drive 9 hours south to reach Manchester. I’m not saying any such office would need to be in the Highlands of Scotland, but how about we at least manage to get half the way up the country?
Or is this really just confirming Labour’s view that the UK government is the government of England?
It’s certainly a resounding message, isn’t it?
Number 10 of the… North?
They draw a line at Manchester,
and plant the “Northern” flag,
while three-fifths of the island sits
inside a Scottish crag.
The Lizard Point to Shetland Isle,
measure south to north,
and realize that “the North” stops cold
way south of Solway Firth.
It’s Anglo-centric mapmaking:
A quietly spoken view,
that “Britain” ends at Berwick town,
and fuck the rest of you.