The King is dead, long live the mobbed insurgent King of the North.Teary Keir Starmer’s enforced abdication and grinning Andy Burnham’s looming coronation perfectly illustrate why politics is a tough, rough, unforgiving, cruel trade with little room for sentiment.So goodbye an unpopular Prime Minister deserving more credit than ever enjoyed for a string of UK Government popular achievements (e.g. workers’ and renters’ rights) but who should name his memoirs “Winter Fool” for an unrecoverable own goal just three weeks after a remarkable Labour election victory.And hello to a currently very popular Prime Minister-in-waiting surfing a wave of enthusiasm who either swiftly comes back down to earth to walk the talk by filling policy and political gaps or the buzz rapidly evaporates.‌Because the soft-Left winner who used to fondly cite Everton Football Club, Labour Party and Catholic Church “in that order” as institutions moulding a younger him is in the game of his life.Burnham’s Praetorians insist he isn’t stupid and is a man with a plan, aware he explains to the electorate exactly who he is, what he stands for and will do for people or enemies do that for him.Which is why the likelihood of no formal Labour leadership contest and power handover on 16 July rather than the middle of September means the former Greater Manchester Mayor must put on his trainers immediately and start running.‌“Andy didn’t gamble by standing in Makerfield to beat Reform to let Nigel Farage later follow him as Prime Minister,” said an MP in his closest circle. “Andy likes to be liked but most of all he likes to win and will do whatever it takes to be a successful Prime Minister so voters recognise what he does to change the country for the better.”Burnham has chatted privately for weeks, in some cases months, with Starmer’s Cabinet and some Ministers may already know which jobs they’ll keep or lose when he appoints Andy’s Army.Rachel Reeves is on borrowed time in the Treasury and somebody who met her recently described the Chancellor as looking devastated, speculation spreading no consolation post will be offered to project ruthless change by Burnham.Some Labour MPs tout the merits of Yvette Cooper as Reeves’ replacement, others Pat McFadden and Ed Miliband. With Cabinet seats wanted for three favourites ( Angela Rayner, Lucy Powell and Lou Haigh), plus a Wes Streeting jumping aboard the Burnham bus and John Healey whose Defence resignation wounded Starmer, this reshuffle will be a bloody night of the long knives.‌The nuts and bolts of exactly what PM Burnham does about power and water are unclear. Tougher regulation, which his language suggests, instead of outright public ownership, would risk disappointing many putting faith in a bold, radical switch of direction.Building the hopeful, optimistic, fairer and more prosperous Britain promised by the country’s seventh PM in 10 years, and 59th PM since the first, Robert Walpole, in 1721, is easier said than done.Burnham’s engaging story-telling, rebadging and accepting plaudits for spreadsheet Starmer’s hitherto ignored successes, may prove one of his stronger assets.