With admirable ambition and resolve, Andy Burnham set out a ten-year programme to transform the UK and raise living standards. Politically, the big snag is that the people will not wait 10 years. They may give the new incumbent of Downing Street 10 weeks or maybe 10 months. But, in their angry, anxious condition, no longer.

They feel lost and confused. They feel abandoned and let down. Sir Keir Starmer failed because he exacerbated those feelings. He brought no hope.

Andy Burnham explicitly recognised that. The country, he said, was “stuck in a rut”. Established politics had failed. He offered change.

And, certainly, his opening endeavour this week was full of verve and enthusiasm. He was commendably focused upon identifying the problems holding Britain back, such as over-centralisation and the need for collaborative politics.

Yet, somehow, for me, his recipe fell slightly flat, like an over-ambitious confectionery in an episode of Bake Off. He talked of radicalism while adhering to many of the structural policies of the departing administration.

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He would stick to the manifesto promises on containing income tax, VAT and National Insurance. There was no sign at this admittedly early stage of tackling Treasury policies – notably on employers’ NI – which have limited business growth.

Further, he would adhere to the fiscal rules set out by Rachel Reeves to subdue borrowing and debt. Again, that is a sensible measure designed to........

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