Burnham speaks with all the confidence of a mayor but without the gravitas of a Prime Minister

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