But when it comes to the gravest matters that prime ministers have to deal with – security, power around the world, or the country’s long-term economic stability, we’re perhaps yet to see if Burnham’s ambition for No 10 is accompanied by truly new big ideas that match the scale of his rhetoric.
There are worries on the right of the Labour Party that Burnham has not absorbed the reality of the country’s economic position – years of stuttering growth, and sky-high levels of debt that leave the UK incredibly vulnerable to the financial markets’ judgements, whether he likes it or not.
And concerns on the left, that he’s tickled their bellies with promises of “authentic Labour”, flirting with the ideas of increasing state control of vital industries, but which might not come through. And like most incoming prime ministers, he has precious little experience of handling international events. The moments in our interview where he was least sure-footed were answering questions about how he’d manage relationships with Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.
One minister said he’d “vibe left, but govern from the centre”. Perhaps, as he’s tried to give firms and families a “breathing space” when it comes to the cost of living, he’ll ask for “breathing space” from the public before his complete programme becomes clear.
Burnham has long been unusual as a politician – a leader who has managed to be popular in a time when politicians often disappoint and are sometimes despised. He knows he’s walking into a job that’s been marked by failure for a decade. As he told me, “the onus is on me not to be another one who just doesn’t change things”. He’s part of a political generation he proclaims to be “just not good enough”.
Remember, his own career has had plenty of failure too. It took Burnham three goes to become the leader of his party. As he arrived, straightening his tie, to be confirmed in the top job in central London 10 days ago, I asked him why he’d taken so long.
He laughed and told me, “I like to make an entrance”.
Andy Burnham has now truly arrived. But he knows all too well, there won’t be applause everywhere he goes.
Watch Panorama Andy Burnham: The Laura Kuenssberg Interview on iPlayer now, and on BBC One at 20:00BST on Mon 27 Jul 2026.
