The prime minister ruled out an early general election on September 25. Some people said Andy Burnham needs an election to start his reforms, but others disagree. They suggest he should follow Bob Hawke’s model of careful consultation. Taking time to debate policies helps avoid the mistakes of past governments.
You report that the prime minister has ruled out calling an early general election ("No 10 rules out early election as rumours swirl", Report, September 25).
Yet much of the reaction to Andy Burnham's speech has been that he will be unable to do much until after he has called (and won) an election, and hence his suggested reforms imply an early election.
But this is foolish reasoning. The proposed reforms are of great potential importance. They need to be reflected on carefully, with all the arguments and counter-arguments heard. Other political parties and many groupings need to be engaged in that debate; and it is essential that the public be, and feel that they have been, consulted.
All this takes time. Too many poor decisions in this country have been caused by ill-thought-out policies, brought in with undue rush from Westminster (think Brexit; water privatisation; HS2; the poll tax; and more).
A model of how to do this properly was provided by the former Australian prime minister Bob Hawke (1983-1991). His series of prices and incomes "accords" with the trade union movement -- of which he had until very recently been the leader -- were at the core of his success.
They laid the basis of what became the central, and fundamental, achievement of his government, namely the ending of protectionism, the freeing of trade with Asia, and the cascade of internal reforms that this provoked. These reforms stuck; and they have served Australia well.
John Llewellyn
Partner, Independent Economics, London SW1, UK
David Vines
Emeritus Professor of Economics and Emeritus Fellow of Balliol College, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK