Burnham revels on public stage but has little time to hammer ideas into shape

Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, commands attention with his comfort on the public stage, readily engaging with microphones, cameras, and spontaneous responses. He possesses a clear passion for articulating a vision for a better society and his potential to lead it.

This public persona draws a stark contrast with the perceived style of Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer. While Starmer's approach has been characterized as pragmatic and less ideologically fixed, some internal critics have long grumbled that this has led to an inability to articulate core beliefs. In contrast, many Labour figures reportedly feel a sense of relief and even joy that Burnham, at least on the big picture, appears to know his own mind.

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A leader with politics and vision. Quite something.

However, Burnham's journey to this point has not been without its critiques. A decade ago, after losing a Labour leadership bid, he faced jokes about indecision. Elements of this critique have resurfaced recently due to his evolving stances on issues like the Waspi women campaign, government borrowing rules, and trans rights. Yet, his tenure as Mayor of Greater Manchester has provided a platform to develop and test a political outlook he now aims to extend to the UK.

Central to this outlook is the concept of devolution – shifting power away from Westminster. His co-authored book, 'Head North,' is now being scrutinized by Westminster for insights into his instincts and potential policy implementations. The book references the post-war shaping of Germany, where regional "Lander" were granted significant autonomy to prevent power concentration in Berlin, suggesting a model for regional empowerment.

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There is no such thing as Starmerism and there never will be.