Burnham’s first moves signal his PM agenda

Later this week, Burnham is expected to set out a shift in the government’s position on oil and gas exploitation once a new energy secretary is in place. That could concern Labour MPs anxious about losses to the Green Party, while others may worry about what it means for the government’s commitment to net zero. He has also promised action on the cost of living, with more detail due tomorrow on the “breathing space” he says he will offer hard-pressed families.

One option being discussed is extending Manchester’s £2 bus fare cap, which would give a concrete sign of how his approach differs from the £3 cap associated with Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves. Former minister Miatta Fahnbulleh has spent recent weeks working through policy options, and the New Economic Foundation, where she once led as head, has argued for more ambitious measures such as rent controls and free bus travel for under-25s.

The bigger test is whether Burnham will go beyond individual announcements and lay out a fuller economic vision. He has said he will explain how his cost of living plans will be funded, while also sticking to Rachel Reeves’s fiscal rules on debt and borrowing. That makes it likely he will focus on shifting existing spending rather than finding entirely new money. The takeaway: Burnham’s early choices suggest he wants his promises on fairness and living costs to define both his politics and his government’s direction.