But in relation to the gravest issues that prime ministers need to take care of – safety, energy round the world, or the nation’s long-term financial stability, we’re maybe but to see if Burnham’s ambition for No 10 is accompanied by really new massive concepts that match the scale of his rhetoric.
There are worries on the proper of the Labour Party that Burnham has not absorbed the actuality of the nation’s financial place – years of stuttering development, and sky-high ranges of debt that go away the UK extremely susceptible to the monetary markets’ judgements, whether or not he likes it or not.
And considerations on the left, that he is tickled their bellies with guarantees of “authentic Labour”, flirting with the concepts of accelerating state management of important industries, however which could not come by. And like most incoming prime ministers, he has treasured little expertise of dealing with worldwide occasions. The moments in our interview the place he was least sure-footed had been answering questions on how he’d handle relationships with Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.
One minister mentioned he’d “vibe left, but govern from the centre”. Perhaps, as he is tried to provide companies and households a “breathing space” in relation to the price of dwelling, he’ll ask for “breathing space” from the public earlier than his full programme becomes clear.
Burnham has lengthy been uncommon as a politician – a frontrunner who has managed to be well-liked in a time when politicians usually disappoint and are generally despised. He is aware of he is strolling right into a job that is been marked by failure for a decade. As he instructed me, “the onus is on me not to be another one who just doesn’t change things”. He’s a part of a political technology he proclaims to be “just not good enough”.
Remember, his personal profession has had loads of failure too. It took Burnham three goes to develop into the chief of his social gathering. As he arrived, straightening his tie, to be confirmed in the high job in central London 10 days in the past, I requested him why he’d taken so lengthy.
He laughed and instructed me, “I like to make an entrance”.
Andy Burnham has now really arrived. But he is aware of all too properly, there will not be applause all over the place he goes.
Watch (*10*)Panorama (*10*)Andy Burnham: The Laura Kuenssberg Interview on iPlayer now, and on BBC One at 20:00BST on Mon 27 Jul 2026.
