Summer holidays are great even when you just got the top job and must still work. Most critics and troublemakers are away. The burdens of the day-to-day are less. You can set the agenda and narrative before the back-at-work deluge commences.

Andy Burnham has benefited from the summer break. He has had a remarkable first month. His start as Prime Minister has been strikingly positive and well received by a tired populace. Labour’s poll numbers are up, and Reform is down. Unlike his tech-adverse predecessor, Burnham has clear messaging well executed on social media.

But summer holidays end. Now the Prime Minister confronts a great many challenges. In the foreign policy realm, at the top of his red box is how he will deal with the most volatile, vindictive, destructive, dangerous American President in the modern era. I expect Burnham’s strategists are already gaming the options. What are Burnham’s available pathways?

Andy Burnham says he will confront Donald Trump to defend Britain’s interests

Andy Burnham’s big ideas and the huge, yawning gap in his plans so far

And he’s off - Burnham enjoys break, but bounce fades

Is placating and feeding the beast a clever idea? Many have tried. Look at how French President Emanuel Macron faired. Great at first, with a fabulous Bastille Day Parade, then progressively worse, until a final break, and mutual mudslinging. Keir Starmer’s efforts also show this does not work and only gives a brief respite for the obsequious leader on bended knee. Starmer pandered to and placated Trump. Played to........

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