‘He knows what he’s doing’: Burnham’s off-the-cuff remarks inspire headlines and headaches

Andy Burnham is in a rare position of having become prime minister without having campaigned on any manifesto promises. Photograph: Toby Melville/PA

Before he became Britain’s prime minister, Andy Burnham promised to “do politics differently”. Just three days into his time in Downing Street, that approach is already being put to the test.

In the last two days, the prime minister has been accused of performing U-turns over raising the income tax threshold, raising taxes for higher earners and freezing private sector rents.