Edited by Alfred Anate Bodurin Mayaki, Saturday 1 August 2026 at 19:27
Ever heard of the political idiom: ‘bleeding heart’ liberal before? The term refers to left-wing politicians who are overly empathetic with disadvantaged groups on issues such as social welfare and education.
Now I would definitely not say Andy Burnham is open to criticism here (he is a Catholic with what many may identify as liberal views) as such, Burnham cannot be labeled as a liberal in the classical sense.
I am starting to feel slightly aggrieved and let down by the 17th Century religious iconography and broader etymology of the term.
I’ve perhaps been challenged myself on Y number of many occasions, to come up with an alternative stance to this notion of apathy that is such a critical number one perceived flaw of adversarial politics in the Westminster model. Conservatives direct all their criticism at the expense of the disadvantaged. The left succeed by effectively protecting the rights and interests of the very same disadvantaged citizens.
Assuming 14th Century figures like the likes of Geoffrey Chaucer, looked at the New Testament and picked out what you might call a surface-level conflict with the political model and accentuated the impetus to intentionally act to protect those in downtrodden and vulnerable situations which Jesus himself asks us to do by considering others above ourselves.
The challenge for Burnham therefore is one of immense self reflection to avoid such a conflict. Does the new PM continue to offer a path of promises or will there be a terminal point of departure?
On the Politics of Bleeding Heart Liberalism
Ever heard of the political idiom: ‘bleeding heart’ liberal before? The term refers to left-wing politicians who are overly empathetic with disadvantaged groups on issues such as social welfare and education.
Now I would definitely not say Andy Burnham is open to criticism here (he is a Catholic with what many may identify as liberal views) as such, Burnham cannot be labeled as a liberal in the classical sense.
I am starting to feel slightly aggrieved and let down by the 17th Century religious iconography and broader etymology of the term.
I’ve perhaps been challenged myself on Y number of many occasions, to come up with an alternative stance to this notion of apathy that is such a critical number one perceived flaw of adversarial politics in the Westminster model. Conservatives direct all their criticism at the expense of the disadvantaged. The left succeed by effectively protecting the rights and interests of the very same disadvantaged citizens.
Assuming 14th Century figures like the likes of Geoffrey Chaucer, looked at the New Testament and picked out what you might call a surface-level conflict with the political model and accentuated the impetus to intentionally act to protect those in downtrodden and vulnerable situations which Jesus himself asks us to do by considering others above ourselves.
The challenge for Burnham therefore is one of immense self reflection to avoid such a conflict. Does the new PM continue to offer a path of promises or will there be a terminal point of departure?
https://unherd.com/newsroom/andy-burnhams-radicalism-will-stop-at-the-treasury/