Andy Burnham could not match excitement of when Keir Starmer became PM
Andy Burnham’s ascension paled in comparison to when Sir Keir Starmer took office two years ago.
On a sunny morning just over two years ago, Downing Street was packed as Sir Keir Starmer became just the fourth person to lead Labour to an electoral majority.
Although everyone had been up all night watching the results, there was optimism in the air.
Sir Keir had just ousted the Tories from power after 14 years - a particularly scandalous last few - by vowing to “change” the country.
Labour people lined Downing Street for Sir Keir’s first speech as Prime Minister. The crowd waved flags, cheered and clapped for the country’s new leader.
On Monday morning, Sir Keir as he gave an address from the lectern.
Labour people stood behind him and he received a big applause again.
This time for his last speech in office.
The world’s media was in Downing Street hours ahead of the event.
Scaffolding was set up with dozens of cameras atop vying for the best angle. Print hacks were huddled into a small pen in the corner.
Ministers and advisers from Sir Keir’s government lined the street as everyone waited for the outgoing prime minister to give his resignation speech.
Sir Keir kept it short. He said he is going “with good grace, I go with a smile, and I go proud of everything that we have achieved.”
The crowd clapped. He gave his wife a hug, embraced his staff and colleagues and walked towards the end of the street where a car was waiting for him.
With Sir Keir gone, there was a relatively swift turnaround as his gaggle left, the lectern was removed and the new PM’s cheerleaders were brought in.
Mr Burnham’s lot looked a lot cheerier. Among them was former England international and Everton (Mr Burnham’s team) legend Peter Reid.
In Tony Blair-like style, Mr Burnham used a microphone placed in front of him instead of reading a speech.
Although not the slickest performance, this no notes strategy automatically made him less stilted than his predecessor.
He vowed action on cost of living - which he will this week - and gave Labour people some red meat by pledging to end rough sleeping in the UK. Of course he didn’t tell us how he would go about it.
He got a decent reception from the crowd but it paled in comparison to 2024.
Today was a big moment for Mr Burnham. At the third time of asking he has become Labour leader.
He didn’t even need to fight a leadership contest and has become Prime Minister without winning an election.
It is for this reason that there was not the same excitement today as there was two years ago.
People celebrated when Sir Keir won the general election after so long out of power.
But this enthusiasm also meant that people felt even more disappointed when Sir Keir did not deliver what they wanted.
There may not have been the same high spirits for this changing of prime minister, but it means the expectations are slightly lower.
Now all people want is for Mr Burnham to be better than Sir Keir. It might not be as easy as he thinks.
It has been a tumultuous decade in British politics.
Mr Burnham is the seventh prime minister in 10 years.
He will hope to be the one who stopped the churning of PMs. Many had expected that Sir Keir would be one to do that.
The scenes may not have been close to what Downing Street was like two years ago but Mr Burnham will not care.
He is finally PM, after all this time.
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