‘The chancellor is in a bind’: Is No 11 at odds with Burnham’s big vision?

Andy Burnham has had what many Labour MPs see as a remarkably fortunate first six weeks as prime minister. No major domestic crisis derailed his plans over the summer, Reform found itself on the defensive, and Burnham returned to Westminster with soaring personal approval ratings and his optimism intact.

That success has helped ease fears among Labour MPs who took the high-risk step of removing Keir Starmer. For now, their gamble appears to have paid off. But beneath the relief lies a growing concern: Burnham’s premiership has yet to confront the hard limits imposed by the economy.

The tension is increasingly focused on No 11. MPs have welcomed the prime minister’s ambition and his belief that government can pursue a more radical course. Yet Chancellor John Healey has not shown that he can match Burnham’s perspective or translate it into an economic programme.

The question facing Labour is whether the optimism surrounding Burnham can survive contact with the Treasury. His political momentum remains strong, but the government’s economic reality is beginning to press against the scale of his promises.