Andy Burnham shows he can connect with public much better than Sir Keir Starmer
Andy Burnham was much more optimistic than Sir Keir Starmer was in his early days as PM
Although he has only had one speech as Labour leader, it is clear that Andy Burnham understands what the public wants to hear much better than Sir Keir Starmer.
Although Labour only won 33 per cent of the vote in 2024, many people were optimistic about a change from 14 years of Tory rule.
Instead of using this to his advantage to implement policy, Sir Keir and Chancellor Rachel Reeves gave the country doom and gloom by complaining a £22 billion blackhole in the public finances.
The winter fuel payment cut then made the public think that things would not get better and that Labour were the same as the party that came in before them.
Mr Burnham has clearly learnt from their mistakes.
He has vowed to give “hope back” to ”return” Labour to what it used to be.
This shows an understanding of former Labour voters across the country.
They often say that it is the party which left them, and not them which left the party.
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Mr Burnham knows that large parts of the country were not satisfied with Labour’s last term in office, so has pledged “the most significant change moment in our politics for 40 years.”
Again, it just shows that little bit of nous about keeping the public onside by showing that you understand where they are coming from.
The former Greater Manchester Mayor also knows how to keep his MPs onside a bit better.
Sir Keir’s regime was trigger happy with suspending the whip when an MP voted against the government.
It was much more punitive than when Tony Blair was Prime Minister and did not help his popularity among the Parliamentary Labour Party.
Mr Burnham has vowed to end the factionalism within the party and will is “not seeking to suspend or punish members who have principled views that may be different from mine, but building unity by respecting all shades of opinion.”
He realises how difficult it became for Sir Keir to control his MPs, and will have seen the various rebellions which forced him into U-turns.
By giving them a bit more leeway, he hopes to keep them onside.
But it is easier to criticise than to actually be leading the country.
His performances so far have had wide appeal and he has said very little that many potential Labour voters will contend with.
This will not last as he sets out his policy agenda for the next few years.
Being Prime Minister means taking divisive decisions, even if they are unpopular with some people.
Mr Burnham will have to accept that large sections of the public - and potentially his own party - will turn against him at some point.
He needs to comfortable with this and not allow it to cloud his judgement.
He is right that this is Labour’s “last chance” as they could be booted out of government in three years time.
But if he manages to stave off Nigel Farage’s Reform UK and win the next general election, he will be viewed as one of Labour’s greatest ever politicians.
The work starts now.
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