As Burnham rightly noted following the Makerfield result, the window he and his party have to make a favourable impression is short. Before announcing anything, we're very much in the vibe zone that precedes the concrete announcements due after he's gone and seen the King. And those vibes are mixed. As we saw, during the by-election Burnham did his very best Keir Starmer impression. And since, news that his old friend James Purnell is moving into Downing Street as his Chief of Staff suggests an office run from the right. As is the persistent rumour that David Miliband (remember him?) will be invited back as foreign secretary. For those hoping for a soft left administration, the rumours concerning the other Miliband have gone unscotched, there's the committent to moving more of Whitehall out to the regions, and Burnham has retained his pledge to donate 15% of his salary to worthy causes. This time in his constituency.
Evidently, even with these in play the weight of previous pronouncements and appointments are pointing to continuity with the trajectory Starmer and his helpers were taking the party on. Not good. There is a social democratic, socially liberal majority in this country, and that is only getting larger as business-as-usual fails to deliver. If Labour doesn't respond to it, that support won't give a Burnham premiership a second look as it goes off to vote for the Greens or prefers the despondency of abstention. And we know who benefits from that.
To begin putting Labour's coalition back together there are some things the new PM can do very quickly to avoid the ghastly, unforced idiocies Starmer's government inflicted on themselves. These would reassure Labour's current and potential future coalition that the party is on their side.
1. Go green. Obviously, appoint Ed Miliband to Number 11. That alone would win back a layer of former Labour support. It also assures many more that the green transition and tackling inequality is at the core of the new government's economic strategy. There are two other parts to this. The first is decoupling energy prices from gas. The best way to counter the rubbish Reform, Tories, and the press push about net zero is for punters to feel the benefits of renewables in their pockets. Second, take up the People' Emergency Briefing call for a Covid-style televised government briefing. The urgency after a week of extreme heat is there, Labour have a very good story to tell about the green transition, and straight away it seizes the politics agenda from a right set on spending the summer stoking more racist riots.
2. Sack Shabana Mahmood. In recent days she has announced new safe routes for refugees as, apparently, a concession to the PLP. Meanwhile, the rest of her Reform-lite proposals remain intact. A great deal pain for those at its sharp end, with no electoral dividend in exchange. Her rules should be scrapped.
3. A government can't stay on the front foot forever, but it has significant advantages where it comes to setting the news agenda. At the beginning of every week Burnham should have a live, televised press conference announcing a particular policy or reporting on some achievement. The complaint is often made that the decent policies Labour have implemented are symptomatic of bad comms. I think the political reason is more about not wanting to raise aspirations and avoiding media flak. As this is Labour's final drink in the last chance saloon, something more decisive is required.
4. Speaking of the media, ensuring that Ofcom impartiality rules are enforced on broadcast journalism. No more editorialising by BBC journalists. No more free passes for GB News. And while they're at it, no more turning of the cheek to Elon Musk. Take all government departments off Twitter.
Do these herald a socialist dawn? No, don't be ridiculous. These are, however, the sort of quick wins Labour should take to begin the reconsolidation of the support the outgoing leadership have spent six years jettisoning. They are a start, would build back the hinterland Labour in the country needs if it's going to undertake the necessary structural reforms, and rob the right of their political initiative. If what we get is sort of in this ballpark, then Burnham's premiership might last. If not, you don't need me to spell out the consequences.
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