The first days of Andy Burnham’s premiership have given the entire country a taste of what was previously the preserve of Manchester alone. After he was elected MP for Makerfield, Burnham’s return to London took on the air of a restoration. In the same vein, there are Burnham’s much-vaunted weekly trips to Number 10 North, which have much in common with the Tudor royal progresses. Burnham’s own progress between Westminster and Manchester performs a similar function. None of this will happen just because Andy Burnham speaks it into being.