Andy Burnham’s summer tour of the United Kingdom, which begins this week, has two goals.
The first is presentational. Leaders only have limited time to determine their reputation and he wants to meet the people he now governs. But even that presents risks – the capacity of a pithy heckler to deflate politicians is well-documented.
Far more challenging, however, is the message he brings with him. That this isn’t just the Andy Burnham Experience, it’s a “Cost of Living Tour”.
Burnham is right that the cost of living is a high priority to millions of Britons. He has also already displayed more understanding of the public’s priorities in his first couple of weeks than Keir Starmer managed in two years.
Hence early announcements about plans to reduce bus fares and temporarily cut VAT on electricity bills, which he presented to the electorate as a way to create “breathing space”.
