From ‘warm and optimistic’ to occasionally a ‘stubborn shithouse', Britain’s next prime minister elicits strong opinions

In the second part of a two-part profile, Josh Halliday charts PM-in-waiting’s journey northward, where as mayor he revelled in his Covid-era popularity – and changed his approach…

‘Manchesterism’ underpins the veteran politician’s plan for Britain. Here’s what Burnham says he would do as PM