Article #64945

His big speech showed promise, but the need is urgent. Keir Starmer failed to fix a broken economic model; Burnham must not make the same mistake

Today’s speech by Andy Burnham underlines that he represents a shift in vibes. What matters, however, is substance, and on that front we still have more questions than answers.

Our soon-to-be prime minister made plenty of good noises. His speech was at the People’s History Museum in Manchester, which showcases the struggles of ordinary people – such as the Levellers, Chartists, suffragettes and trade unionists – for justice and democracy. He would “take inspiration from that history”, he told his enthused audience.

Owen Jones is a Guardian columnist