Prime Ministers in the modern era have invariably tried to prove that they are men of the people. It’s one reason why the likes of Tony Blair, Liz Truss and now Andy Burnham have used the familiar form of their Christian name in the way Harry Macmillan or Dave Lloyd George never did. But what marks out Andy Burnham as novel is that he doesn’t merely flaunt his common touch as part of a broader, cynical strategy to garner electoral support. His earthly demeanour – albeit laboured – actually seems to convey authenticity. He really does want to be liked.

When Tony Blair appeared on popular television shows such as Des O’Connor Tonight, where his accent opportunely shifted to a cringeworthy glottal-stopping Estuary English, most of us just groaned, so accustomed had we become to the wily ways of this superficial man, a phoney whose time in power is remembered today for introducing ‘spin’ to the political lexicon. By comparison, when Andy Burnham appeared on Channel 4’s Gogglebox on Friday, you had a feeling that it wasn’t entirely a charade.

What marks out Andy Burnham as novel is that he doesn’t merely flaunt his common touch as part of a broader, cynical strategy to garner electoral support

What marks out Andy Burnham as novel is that he doesn’t merely flaunt his common touch as part of a broader, cynical strategy........

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