A new dawn has arrived in Britain. Andy Burnham has replaced Keir Starmer as prime minister. The Labour Party has arrested its seemingly irreversible slump, having learned its lessons, and is ready to resume governing, while addressing the concerns of ordinary people. Faith in politics has been restored.
At least, that appears to be the portrait that has been deftly constructed in the first fortnight of the new Burnham premiership.
The former Greater Manchester mayor took high office with an unambiguous message to deliver change. Outside Downing Street, in his first official speech, he promised that his arrival would be a “circuit breaker” moment in British politics.
“This is the start of a complete rewiring of economic and political power,” he reiterated last week.
The evidence suggests the British public finds his argument compelling. For the first time in more than a year, the Labour Party is polling ahead of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK, while Burnham’s personal ratings are also strong.
