Analysis: many Prime Ministers have promised change - can Andy Burnham deliver it?

Exactly what that means, as of yet I’m not 100 per cent sure. He was positively beaming as he finished with the line: “Imagine good growth in every postcode and hope in every heart. Well imagine no more - let’s make it happen.”

But as I listened to the former Greater Manchester Mayor’s first major intervention since returning to Westminster last week, I couldn’t help but think of how many times I’ve heard similar themes before.

Mr Burnham has pledged to “rewire Britain”, with sweeping reforms to Whitehall.

Only last year, Sir Keir Starmer made a similar promise, saying he would change the British state by “reforming it so it’s closer to communities” and “tearing down the walls in Westminster”.

He also spoke of a “10-year mission to raise people’s living standards”, which sounded eerily similar to Sir Keir’s “decade of national renewal” project.

Mr Burnham’s comments about how Westminster “hasn’t been working for a very long time … it is broken” reminded me of Liz Truss.

While Boris Johnson also made an ambitious pledge to give power back to all parts of the country with his “levelling up” agenda.

Now all of Mr Burnham’s predecessors committed serious missteps which in part brought them down - partygate, the mini-Budget and the Lord Mandelson scandal - but the public has repeatedly voted politicians into power on an expectation of change.

After making these bold promises Mr Burnham must deliver and deliver quickly.

A clear difference with Sir Keir was that Mr Burnham appeared to be enjoying himself. He looked relaxed and cracked jokes about his t-shirts and running kit.

This will have pleased Labour MPs, who have been looking for a different energy in Downing Street.

He also spoke of reaching across the aisle and building a coalition and a consensus - something he has been very effective at in the North West.

The most eye-catching announcement in the speech were plans for a No10 North in Manchester.

He said it would “make power flow” to places like Yorkshire, the North East and other parts of the country.

Mr Burnham explained: “It will be the conduit through which we redistribute power and resources across the UK.

“It will coordinate all parts of government at a national and local level on a long-term economic strategy and help all places with new growth ambitions.”

Now it’s very important to have civil servants and politicians in the areas they make decisions.

It’s a key principle of devolution, which has been a major success in Yorkshire in my opinion.

From speaking to young people and apprentices, the impact of being able to access some of the major institutions that have moved to Leeds has been transformative for their careers.

But this No10 North has to actually hand down more powers to the regions, not be a new centralised Downing Street in Manchester.

Surprisingly, Mr Burnham was pretty light on specifics on what his devolution revolution will involve.

There was no mention of business rates or income tax as expected, the only announcement in that regard was employment support being passed on to mayors.

Mr Burnham’s speech was really focused on his priorities as Greater Manchester Mayor - housing, transport and technical education.

He said that he knows he can deliver for the country as he had done it in Manchester - and that’s certainly true.

However, there was no mention of foreign policy and a fleeting reference to the Defence Investment Plan.

The former chief of the defence staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said on Sunday that Mr Burnham needed to think about the “Moscow test” as well as the “Makerfield test” that he has mentioned.

He wanted Mr Burnham to think about how the UK appears to Vladimir Putin and Russia?

Now maybe that is yet to come from the prospective Prime Minister further down the line, yet at the moment it appears as if Mr Burnham is still very focused on a different M and that is Manchester.