Shortly before entering Downing Street, Andy Burnham made a promise that appeared to be reassuring in its simplicity. “I won’t change,” he said. “I have a style. It’s my style.”
Burnham’s political appeal partly rests on the impression that there is little distance between the politician and the person. His black T-shirt and jacket, attachment to Everton football club and the band New Order, ease with crowds and habit of speaking without notes all reinforce a recognisable persona. After the more reserved Keir Starmer, Burnham’s informality has been part of the attraction.
