THE race to replace Sir Keir Starmer looks done and dusted before it has even really begun.
Barring a major upset, Andy Burnham will have his feet under the Downing Street desk in less than a month.
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Andy Burnham will probably be in Downing Street in less than a month Credit: REUTERS
Sir Keir Starmer fought back tears today as he quit No10 Credit: Reuters
With any luck he’ll get to be the Prime Minister who watches England bring it home in a World Cup final.
But that is where any crumb of a honeymoon will likely end.
For he will inherit a deeply divided Labour party and an equally fractured country crying out for change.
Burnham is clearly a bit more charismatic than Starmer – it is a low bar – and he has been relatively popular by modern standards.
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Newly elected Makerfield MP Andy Burnham at Manchester Piccadilly station today Credit: Reuters
Sir Keir hugs Victoria after his resignation speech Credit: EPA
But if he thinks he can bring his Manchester boosterism to Downing Street and automatically succeed he is kidding himself.
The endless platitudes – he asked the people of Makerfield to “vote for hope” – will quickly make contact with the in-tray from hell.
Where are the plans for immigration, growth, welfare, defence and crime?
If Burnham has a blueprint, then we are yet to see it.
The PM held back tears as he resigned today Credit: Getty
Andy Burnham is gunning for No10 Credit: Getty
And the tragedy of a coronation is they won’t be exposed to the spotlight of scrutiny.
Diving into Downing Street without road-testing ideas is what led to the winter fuel and national insurance disasters.
And if he hasn’t got a plan? Then Lord help us all.
Clearly there is no perfect training ground to take on the most powerful office in the land.
Burnham was once a creature of Westminster and has done almost a decade as mayor of a big city, so he is no novice.
But he takes on the job with one hand effectively tied behind his back given his lack of a proper mandate.
At a time when the British state requires big bold reform, the next PM will be dogged by demands for a general election to get their own approval from the voters.
It does not bode well that Burnham’s biggest cheerleaders are left-wing MPs who risk dragging him further away from the country’s priorities.
Starmer once said “country before party” before gradually bending to the narrow interests of his own side and slipping in the polls as a result.
If Burnham is to have better luck, this is surely the lesson to be learnt.
