On Good Morning Britain, Susanna Reid and Richard Madeley challenged Andy Burnham after the government told people to stockpile food and water, Susana: “You’ve just spooked everybody by saying stockpile… We have the current Defence Secretary saying we need to prepare for war.” Richard then asked whether Burnham was disappointed that some of his own colleagues treated the stockpiling advice light-heartedly, referring to comments from figures such as Angela Rayner who joked about packing mascara and wine in a survival kit, essentially, “either you’re serious about it or you’re not.” Burnham laughing away to himself, replied that he wasn’t bothered, because “a bit of humour makes the point.” No. Telling the public to prepare for war or major disruption is fearmongering, and brushing off the anxiety it creates with a joke isn’t funny. He treats everything as a bit of a laugh because he seems more concerned with coming across as the ordinary, down-to-earth bloke than acting like a Prime Minister facing serious security questions. You’re in the job now, time to take it seriously