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On Brexit, Andy Burnham could do worse than follow the lead of Pericles | Letter

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Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 03/11/2026, 17:50:26 UTC.

Briefings

A letter argues that UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham should emulate Pericles by leading the nation rather than following public opinion on Brexit. The author cites Thucydides' distinction between leadership and being led, suggesting Burnham needs to proactively define his relationship with European partners through an independent OBR analysis. The piece critiques Burnham's apparent passivity in the current debate.

Key points

• Thucydides' historical observation states that Pericles led the Athenian people rather than being led by them, contrasting with Burnham's apparent role of following voters on Brexit.
• The author proposes Burnham should request an independent Office for Budget Responsibility analysis to evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of closer EU relationships.

Context

The article appears in The Guardian's 'view on a changing Brexit debate' series, discussing Kemi Badenoch's denial of Brexit implications. It uses classical Greek history to frame modern political leadership dynamics in the UK-EU context.

Limitations

The evidence is a single letter without author credentials, publication venue details, or specific dates for the letter's release. The analysis relies on Thucydides' historical account rather than contemporary political data.

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