Read More There’s no pleasing some people. For most of last week, all the opposition parties were moaning that Andy Burnham had taken a vow of silence ever since the Makerfield byelection. That no one had a clue just what the prime minister designate had in mind.On Monday, Andy sought to answer some of those questions, but before he had opened his mouth, Kemi Badenoch accused him of trying to avoid the scrutiny of MPs. He should be doing this from the dispatch box, she said. Um … except he’s not a minister. Maybe she plans to give him a guest slot from the opposition benches. There again, she was also saying that all his plans were bound to fail long before he had even told us what they were. Never change, Kemi. Just keep saying the first thing that comes into your head.The Engine Hall annexe at the People’s History Museum in Manchester was already rammed half an hour before Andy was due to speak. The location deliberately symbolic: this is a museum dedicated to democracy. No one, though, was quite in the mood to mention that Burnham is about to become yet another prime minister installed without a general election. Without even a leadership contest. His rivals have all melted away. Instead we have a coronation.Nor was Andy planning on subjecting himself to questions from the media. That was made clear well in advance. There would be a time and a place when he would take questions in the weeks and months ahead, but now was not that moment. He wasn’t feeling the right vibes. He had a busy schedule. He needed to be somewhere else afterwards. Though there had been nothing stopping him from beginning the event half an hour earlier. Call him the people’s prince.After a brief introduction from Bev Craig, Labour’s candidate to be the new mayor of Greater Manchester, and a prolonged standing ovation just for walking into the room, Burnham took to the stage. And you have to give it to him. He is a natural. Where Keir Starmer had the unfortunate knack of making any room feel awkward, Andy looked as if he was right at home. If you’re picking your prime minister on his ability to put you at your ease, then Labour have chosen the right man.Sooner or later, Burnham is going to have to get used to wearing a suit more frequently. It’s is the prime ministerial dress code. But today he was in Manchester mode. Black T-shirt – not sure this one wasn’t dark blue – and jacket. He quickly let us know the museum was one of his favourite places, and he had already donated an old coat he had worn in the pandemic to go on show beside Michael Foot’s donkey jacket. Maybe, once the T-shirt has been retired, he can give that to the museum, too. Along with a couple of eyelashes. There will be queues around the block.Fair to say, Andy was speaking to a home crowd. Not just because he was back in Manchester. But because for many Labour MPs and members he is the second coming. They had thought they were dead and buried under Starmer. Now they feel they have been gi
