As is so often the case, a week of two halves for the Prime Minister. It began in grand style with a remarkable speech seeking to reshape Britain. It ended with a rather large local difficulty in his political home.

In a BBC interview, Andy Burnham seemed to sympathise with the plight of Manchester City, beset by all those awkward, persistent questions about their funding. Downing Street eventually back-pedalled.

Perhaps he is still too much the mayor of Manchester, elevated. Perhaps he was thinking of Everton, his own club, who were also investigated a while back. Either way, it was a reminder that Macmillan’s “events” frequently impede political planning.

Still, I will try to refocus upon those grand ideas. In particular, upon their Scottish impact.

It was a decidedly impressive address. It replaced bogus grandiloquence with emotion and homespun empathy which appeared authentic and thus sidestepped the hazard of sounding cheesy. It eschewed attacks on rivals. No carping, no satire.

The list of declared objectives was striking. For the Commons, electoral reform – aimed at Reform UK in that the PM voiced concern that, in future, a “divisive” party might gain power on less than 30 per cent of the vote. (Labour won a huge majority in 2024 on less than 34 per cent.)

More public control, including of water and housing in England, albeit within limits. Also public intervention in energy – again with constraints.

Steps to move closer to the European Union, including the option of rejoining, to reverse the harm he said had been done by Brexit. Politically challenging – not least for MPs like Burnham himself who had to surmount Reform in his........

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