Ed Cumming and Janet EasthamJul 17, 2026 – 2.07pmAs Andy Burnham campaigned for election as the new MP for Makerfield, setting out on a seemingly inevitable path to becoming British prime minister, he presented himself as a straightforward, man-of-the-people-type politician.After the chicanery, deceit and incompetence of recent governments, here was a bloke the electorate could do business with. He likes football, chips, The Smiths and whichever left-ish policies he thinks suit the public mood that day. In short: a no-nonsense leader in waiting. What the voters see, he suggests, is what they will get.The Telegraph LondonSubscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Fetching latest articles