Supporters say he has a point. They argue Brexit damaged trade, investment and confidence, while decades of privatisation and underinvestment left Britain with weak growth, poor infrastructure and squeezed public services.
Critics say Burnham is looking backwards. They argue Margaret Thatcher left office more than 35 years ago, Brexit happened a decade ago, and the new Prime Minister now needs to focus on solutions rather than blame.
There is also the question of delivery. With bills, food prices, mortgages and energy costs still putting pressure on households, can Burnham really make people feel better off?
So is Burnham right to blame Brexit and Thatcher, or should he stop pointing to the past and prove he can fix the future?
Distance lends perspective. As a one-time huge fan of Thatcher, I have the following to say…
Margaret Thatcher was the architect of many of our economic problems today. She did some things that were very good; it’s true. But it must also be said that she harmed the British economy as well, especially by selling off so many of this country’s valuable assets. As Harold Macmillan said: Thatcher sold off the family silver. This is his actual quote:
“The sale of assets is common with individuals and states when they run into financial difficulties. …At the time, it seemed that she was working miracles with the UK economy, but those apparent miracles turned out to be short-term fixes — short-term dreams, but long-term nightmares.
First of all the Georgian silver goes, and then all that nice furniture that used to be in the saloon. Then the Canalettos go.” — Harold Macmillan, November 8, 1985
Further, Thatcher (and her buddy, Reagan, in the States) were the root cause of the huge wealth gap that we have today.
So much for Thatcherism; so much for Reaganomics! — © Mark Alexander
