Andy Burnham earned his spurs as a great communicator on the back of a few summer TikToks, but is the shine coming off just a couple of months into the new job? While some people still appreciate the supposedly down to earth ‘tell it like it is’ approach, there can be no denying that the PM’s loose lips have got him into hot water in recent weeks. Labour sources concede that Burnham’s tendency to “shoot from the hip” is becoming a problem.
Consider his comments on Heathrow expansion, when he said the third runway “is a matter for London” before suggesting he shouldn’t offer a view, given the proposal is currently subject to a consultation. The apparent lack of support for the multi-billion pound national infrastructure project sent panic through the sector, and saw a concerted effort from Whitehall to reassure industry figures that the government remains supportive.
Then we had his remarkably ill-judged comments on Manchester City, where he seemed to suggest instinctive support for the club’s Abu Dhabi ownership. His aides were forced to clarify his comments.
Most recently the PM seemed to share the details of a high-level intelligence briefing he’d asked for on Russian interference in the 2016 Brexit vote, to the delight of podcast hosts Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart. Having offered much more heat than light, his own ministers and, ultimately, the Downing Street spokesperson, spent all of Monday rowing back from the comments and clarifying that there was no evidence of such activity affecting the result of the vote.
He seems to revel in a ‘just saying’ attitude
Do you see the pattern here? Burnham speaks with all the confidence of a regional mayor but without the gravitas of a Prime Minister. He seems to revel in a “just saying” attitude, without recognising the consequences of his words. Time and again he lets slip a comment or a point of view that has to be clarified, rectified or disowned by his aides or ministers. The Brexit comments are particularly incendiary given that he’s on record saying (when he was trying to return to Westminster) that no good would come from opening old wounds. Not much good comes from answering every question with cavalier off-the-cuffery, either.
The alternative explanation is that Burnham knows exactly what he’s saying and why he’s saying it, but if that’s the case why do so many people have to spend their time telling us what he actually meant to say?