Back in 2015, in the middle of what would turn out to be a second unsuccessful bid for Labour party leadership, Andy Burnham was asked to share his favourite choice of biscuit with the readers of parenting website Mumsnet. His answer? “I don’t have a sweet tooth and don’t eat biscuits,” he said. “But give me a beer and chips and gravy any day…”
Sound the salt of the Earth klaxon! This was an answer that practically screamed “Ey up!” An answer that was ready to tell you off for leaving the lights on, because it “looks like Blackpool illuminations in here”. An answer that was ready to tell you about its mad nights out at the Hacienda, before FAC 51 got turned into flats.
