https://edconway.substack.com/p/what-andy-burnhams-80-t-shirt-really 💡 Andy°hard word Burnham°hard word ⚙️ new Prime°hard word Minister°hard word of the United Kingdom°hard word wore°hard word a T-shirt that cost°hard word 80 pounds°hard word ⚙️ roughly $125 because it was made°hard word in the UK°hard word from UK°hard word wool/cotton.
Now in some respects all of this - the fuss°hard word about the T-shirts and then°hard word the fuss°hard word about how much they cost°hard word - is simply yet°hard word more evidence of what we here in the UK°hard word fondly°hard word refer°hard word to as°hard word the “silly°hard word season” - the period of parliamentary°hard word recess°hard word in the middle of the summer when newspapers°hard word are forced°hard word to fluff°hard word up minor°hard word stories into giant exposes°hard word, in the absence°hard word of much actual°hard word news.
But I think this story, of Andy°hard word Burnham°hard word’s expensive°hard word T-shirts and jackets, is actually rather more interesting than it probably seems on the surface - albeit°hard word not°hard word for the same reasons the Daily Mail thinks it is. Understand why Andy°hard word Burnham°hard word is paying so much for his casual-wear°hard word and you begin to understand rather a lot about the deep-seated°hard word problems we as°hard word a country and as°hard word an economy°hard word are facing°hard word right now. You begin to see how enormous is the challenge°hard word he faces as°hard word Prime°hard word Minister°hard word.
The article°hard word is right. There are multiple°hard word stories here: why are clothes°hard word priced°hard word how we are? Why does the UK°hard word press care about the PM's°hard word clothing budget°hard word?