𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Andy Burnham’s first major interview since becoming Prime Minister still leaves us with more questions than answers. Whether it’s dealing with Donald Trump, cracking down on immigration, slashing the welfare bill, boosting the defence budget, or taxation – we still don’t know what he will do on those five issues.

The same goes for tackling the social care crisis, although we may only have to wait 24 hours for more details on that one. Even his promise that there wouldn’t be an early general election didn’t appear to be set in stone.

In fact, the only real concrete plan that he set out to the BBC in the rather swish No 10 North is that Burnham’s pet dog Axel will not be moved into Downing Street because it wouldn’t get on with Larry, the longstanding cat who lives at No 10 South.

On Trump, the PM gave a very Starmer-esque response, repeatedly telling Laura Kuenssberg that he had a “warm” conversation with the US president.

He also vowed to put the UK’s national interests first, even if it meant disagreeing with the Republican strongman.

Burnham appeared to revel in being in his “home” city of Manchester.

But he appeared uneasy when it came to the defence budget, not committing to a date when the Government would spend 3% of GDP.

It’s especially awkward, as his pick as Chancellor, John Healey, resigned from the previous government, saying that unless a commitment to spend that amount by 2030 was made, the country would not be safe.

The same goes for immigration. Burnham insisted that Shabana Mahmood’s plans need “fresh eyes”, hinting at a possible watering down of the Home Secretary’s crackdown in an attempt to keep Labour backbenchers happy.

The word of the moment doing the rounds in Westminster is “vibes” – the general mood, atmosphere, or feeling given off by a person.

Burnham, a lifelong politico, is all about vibes. Positive ones, granted.

But although we’re beginning to see the vision of this Cambridge graduate, the all-important details of how and how much are nowhere to be seen.