Politicians go away from Westminster for the summer and the door is left open for less serious subjects to report.

Of course it never seems to happen like that, and this month there has been no shortage of subjects for political reporters left holding the fort to get their teeth into.

One of the most predictable, and frankly boring, subjects of the summer came when new Prime Minister Andy Burnham had the temerity to take a short break from Number 10 last week.

Now I know he’s only just moved in, but in case nobody had noticed he’s been pretty busy all year.

He’s just appointed a new team of ministers whom, we must assume, he has faith in so why shouldn’t he have a few days with his family?

Given modern communications and the scope of the government machine I’m certain that if a genuine national crisis had erupted........

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