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Without a twinge of irony, the PM helped raise money for a cause he could solve in one day. Rather than end rough sleeping, Mr. Burnham thought the appropriate action was to get all sweaty for a charity that was doing his job for him. He was alleged to have mumbled in a northern dialect, ‘I could help but I'd rather jog off’.


With nipples chaffing, the Prime Minister celebrated his victory against homeliness by high-fiving a tramp. Asked why he doesn't volunteer at the shelter, Burnham explained that running past the shelter at speed creates a powerful crosswind of compassion. Every time somebody suggested tackling the root cause of the problem, an aide pointed at his medal and said, ‘Andy prefers to tackle the route cause.’


He also spent six months training for a sponsored 5K to combat world hunger, then celebrated crossing the finish line by eating seventeen pastries. He insisted that the true cure for homelessness was watching 4,000 office workers dressed as bananas jog through a city centre on a Sunday morning. Staff began referring to him as a ‘frontline responder’ because he overtook a man dressed as a giraffe.


Years later, the problem will still exist, but Burnham will have a drawer full of participation T-shirts as tangible proof that something very energetic was definitely done about it.


photo: Wikimedia Commons https://rb.gy/olqqwg


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After the rejection of the latest pay offer by members, and in anticipation of strikes until the end of the year, the nurses union has just released its charity Christmas single, eight months early.


A spokesperson said that the money from sales of the single will be used to help nurses with their food and energy bills.


The charity single is a reworking of the 12 days of Christmas and celebrates daily life in the NHS. The lyrics are as follows


On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me

Twelve lawsuits coming

Eleven MPs sniping

Ten doctors beeping

No pay financing

Eight nurses wilting

Seven bedpans brimming

Six patients paying

Five cold meals

Four bawling babs

Three French SRNs

Two rubber gloves

And a single doctor left in A&E


The nurses union explained that the song is ‘just a bit of fun’ and that NHS patients should not expect to see ten doctors when they visit hospital, unless there is a picket line. They also wanted to make clear that NHS food is usually served hot (or lukewarm for meetings about pay negotiations) and is very nutritious. The reference to five cold meals is about the food at weekends and bank holidays, when another tray of sandwiches and a banana can feel a bit disappointing.



First published 23 April 2023


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