Lord David Blunkett has praised Andy Burnham's start as Prime Minister as "remarkable", but cautioned that turning round inertia in public services will be a major challenge.
Writing in a column, the former Labour Cabinet minister noted that Burnham will have been Prime Minister for just 50 days on Tuesday, half of the traditional "first one hundred days" period. Blunkett said everyone expects a miracle, but added: "Even as a long-standing and close friend, I don't expect miracles!"
Early achievements
Blunkett highlighted what Burnham has already done, including lifting people's spirits and providing hope that "tomorrow will be a considerable improvement on today". He referenced a Prime Minister's Questions exchange with Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, who asked "what have you cut" regarding public spending. Burnham responded: "What have I cut? I've cut tax!" Blunkett described this as "Game, set and match".
He also noted that Burnham has cut tax on energy bills, offered help to pubs and music venues, moved part of the Downing Street operation up north, toured the country, visited Ukraine, welcomed French President Macron to the opening of the Bayeux Tapestry exhibition in London, and made "an incredible stab" at sorting out the criminal justice system.
Devolution and speed
Blunkett welcomed Burnham's commitment to devolving influence and power out of Westminster and Whitehall, but stressed that "it is how people feel in their day to day lives that matters most" and that moving administration geographically closer will not in itself improve how people feel.
He argued that the big challenge is one of speed, saying: "In a world where you can press a button to get an Amazon delivery within 24 hours, it is hard to explain that revolutionising the bigger challenges of life is a tad more difficult!" Blunkett said the new prime minister has the ability to explain the time it takes, "but not a lot of time to win back the electorate".
By the time the hundred days have passed, John Healey's first budget will have been delivered, and then the real business begins: "making sure that good intentions can be delivered".
