The gimmicky replacing the gormless – that would appear to be a reasonable summary of events in Downing Street this week, as Britain witnessed its fifth prime minister in four years.

Outgoing leader Keir Starmer had brought gormlessness to a new level with 16 policy U-turns in as many months.

His replacement, Andy Burnham, has opted instead for a series of gimmicks, which appear designed to challenge the populist approach of Reform UK.

For example, he intends to develop “a No 10 in the North”, by moving part of Downing Street’s operation to Manchester. This, he claims, will create “the nerve centre of a rewired Britain”.

Máiría Cahill: ‘I’ve known my fair share of child abusers. I should have spotted the signs with Jeffrey Donaldson. I did not’

David Adams: Reconciliation would be harder, not easier, in a united Ireland

Does he really believe that government policy-making can be improved by moving the process 200 miles north from London? If so, moving another 100 miles to Newcastle would presumably produce even better policies.

It is a bit like claiming that Stormont would work better if it were moved from Belfast to Ballygawley.

Britain’s future prospects also appear to depend on the prime minister’s dress sense. The........

© The Irish News