What Andy Burnham’s first interview as PM really revealed

What Andy Burnham’s first interview as PM really revealed Andy Burnham has kicked off his second week as PM with a Laura Kuenssberg interview. But how did he fare in this first scrutiny test? Ex-Whitehall insiders Helen MacNamara and Cleo Watson weigh in. Reported by Maja Anushka - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments Two days on from Andy Burnham's first major interview as prime minister, the verdict is settling: confident in the broad strokes, exposed in the detail. The PM sat down with the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg on Monday – ending weeks of frustration among journalists after refusing questions at press conferences and speeches since taking office – covering welfare reform, defence spending, Trump and Putin. But it was the moments he didn't handle cleanly that are still being talked about. Cleo Watson, former No 10 special adviser and co-host of In The Room, felt that while Mr Burnham didn’t ‘cause himself any major problems’, the interview remained weak. “He was very confident giving sweeping general statements, but wouldn't commit to anything. He was quite cagey. Very happy with the first question, very nervous with any kind of follow-up.” “He’s used to being universally loved in Manchester, and because we’ve missed a Labour leadership election, he hasn’t been tested or had to answer any hard questions along the way. I felt that’s what we were seeing in this interview: it was the first time he was actually on the back foot. “I really hope [the Labour party] are going to find some opportunities for him to get used to being disliked or put on the spot. That’s part of the job, too.” Perhaps coming across as a headstrong, intimidating leader was not Mr Burnham’s aim for the interview, Cleo suggests. With 83% name recognition in Greater Manchester, but only 38% across the UK, the challenge for Burnham is still about managing his first impression. “People are getting to know him and just seeing him talk,” Cleo says. “They’re seeing what kind of person he is.” Cleo’s co-host and the former deputy cabinet secretary Helen MacNamara is enthusiastic about giving Mr Burnham a chance, but remains concerned. Scaling a local understanding of power all the way up to the most important job in the country is no simple task, and she was not necessarily eased by the Kuenssberg performance. “He came across as the mayor, not the prime minister,” she says. Mr Burnham described his first phone call with Trump as ‘very warm’, and said he ‘takes people as he finds them’. This was where Helen observed a more ‘hesitant and nervy’ leader. “He had a sort of folksy response. The thing is, I don’t want a folksy prime minister. “I want a prime minister taking advice from the best people in our country, who understand national security and diplomacy. Don’t take people as you find them, please. Pay attention to the advice around you.” The PM did go on to say that he’ll disagree with Trump if it were in the national interest, but was less prepared for Kuenssberg’s question about relations with Russia. When asked about whether he would accept a phone call from Vladimir Putin, the PM stammered and admitted it was a hard question to answer ‘directly’. “He was quite cagey on whether he would accept a phone call with Vladimir Putin,” Cleo says. “He’s not willing to take Putin as he found him. He panicked a bit, in response to that question.” It’s an area where Mr Burnham risks standing in contrast to his predecessor, Cleo explains. “Starmer always did well on foreign affairs. I think this interview opened up that flank for Burnham. There may be folksy charm, but will people find him statesmanlike and confident on the world stage?” Some critics (most notably and least unsurprisingly, Nigel Farage) have called for a general election. They say Mr Burnham became Labour leader without a mandate. During the interview, the PM ruled out an election, instead committing himself once again to the manifesto upon which Labour was voted into government in 2024. Helen found this promise contradictory to Mr Burnham’s claims of being a ‘circuit breaker’. “How does that compete with you being the biggest breath of fresh air we’ve had for 40 years?” she asks, referencing his post-win election speech. “You can’t argue that it’s both total change and completely the same.” Listen to the full episode of In The Room on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, or watch on YouTube. Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments