Sam Colclough outlines why Andy Burnham cannot commit to both welfare and warfareAs with any reset in the Labour Party and any new Labour Prime Minister, there is hope among some that Andy Burnham will prove a success. To that end, we can explore whether Burnham will be a welfare prime minister or a warfare prime minister and why that dichotomy exists. There’s every chance the government will try to spin extra defence spending as the key to reinvigorating the economy. Parties and governments in the UK that prioritise investment in weaponry are invariably less inclined to support welfare provisions. It’s no coincidence arms spending is a longstanding priority for the right – the same people who oppose welfare spending the most.