The route to 10 Downing Street is often fairly parochial, requiring knowledge and experience of local or national issues, rather than international ones. Andy Burnham has been involved in politics for a quarter of a century. But his variety of posts gives us little indication of how he is likely to manage relations with key allies and the UK’s role in various parts of the world.
Burnham has appointed Ed Miliband (who opposed further North Sea exploitation) as foreign secretary. This suggests a willingness to risk the disapproval of Donald Trump. Miliband, the first foreign secretary of Jewish background since his brother, David, favours a strong relationship with Israel but is no Zionist.
