Jeremy Clarkson issues crushing one-word blow to Burnham hours after speech
Jeremy Clarkson has taken a brutal swipe hours after Andy Burnham laid out his groundbreaking government plans in his first major speech. Sir Keir Starmer's likely successor set out his plans for the economy and devolution in a key address in Manchester on Monday (June 29). But moments after he concluded his speech, he was seen making a swift exit out the back of the building as he declined to take questions from the media.
His abrupt exit almost immediately sparked backlash from Brits up and down the country, and now the Clarkson's Farm host has weighed in on the explosive debate online. Taking to X, one user posed the question: "Do you think Andy Burnham will be worse than Starmer?" to which the 66-year-old motoring journalist bluntly replied: "Yes".
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Fans soon flocked to the comments to share their similar thoughts about the prospect of Burnham taking the keys to No. 10. One user penned: "I'm absolutely sure he will be worse. The evidence keeps building."
Another agreed: "Agree. I think we should have a general election so the people can decide who is the next PM. Not the same old same old..." A third chimed in with: "He already is, and he's not got the job yet."
Meanwhile, others suggested the TV presenter give the politician a chance before tearing him down online. One user fumed: "How's about suggesting some stuff to help rather than just moaning. Or become an MP and do something." Another agreed: "Like you could do better. I would like to see that given your old catchphrase was, 'How hard can it be?'"
The dad-of-four's dislike for the former Mayor of Manchester is nothing new to loyal fans. Back in May, the Who Wants To Be A Millionaire host defended the Green Party candidate standing against the politician in the lead up to the Makerfield by-election.
He insisted to his strong fanbase that voting for her was not as "mad" as people may have initially thought. Clarkson took aim at Burnham's expected return to Westminster in his weekly column in the Times, stating that there is "no dignity" in the move.
The broadcaster said he initially thought Green candidate Sarah Wakefield was a sort of "loony left" figure. But after looking into the politician, who is an executive director of food charity Eating Better, Clarkson wrote that the reality was very different.
The former Top Gear star even found himself agreeing with Wakefield on some of her points and jumped to her defence over questions about her work record, pointing to her previous roles at the WWF and the Co-op. He wrote: "At least the girl's been out there.
"She's got up in a morning, got dressed and put in a shift. I'd rather vote for someone like that than someone who spent their early life getting pregnant and the next few years in a pointless quango."
His strongest criticism, however, was saved for the Labour MP, admitting that he disliked the way the by-election had come about, with a Labour MP giving up his seat to create the opening. He fumed: "There's no dignity in that".