In his latest column, PopCon Director, Mark Littlewood, reflects on the first two weeks of Andy Burnham's Premiership. 'The dividing line in British politics is no longer left versus right but “stick with the system” versus “reset it”. Those of a conservative mindset need to unite in the latter camp.'

We now live in a country in which nearly everyone knows our governmental system doesn’t work. But it is easier for many to pretend that it does, with some modifications, rather than change it.

Our new Prime Minister, who I accept is really rather charming, seems to think that the route to national renewal is to have a quango in every postcode.

Andy Burnham’s answer to everything is going to be that the present governance of the UK is essentially functional; it just needs a little twist of management and more and better “comms”. The state is so benevolent that it is unreasonable that its tentacles aren’t sufficiently extended beyond London.

This, from what I can gather so far, is what “Manchesterism” means. A guiding hand from a political elite to run the affairs of our cities and provinces is the recipe. His predecessor was a good man but didn’t carry this off with sufficient aplomb.

The government of the UK (which now accounts for nearly 50% of all expenditure in our country) is now - we are asked to believe - in better hands and although it may “ask” for a bit more of your money in tax and “hope it can reach consent” on how we handle the funding of social care, there is otherwise not much to worry your pretty little head about.

This – as the Burnham charm offensive meets reality – is going to be the great dividing line in British politics for a long while to come. Do you think our current system of governance is basically sound but merely needs a quick shuffle of people and management if things start to go wrong? Or do you think the system is fundamentally broken and needs a complete reboot, whoever is currently in charge?

Andy Burnham is in the former camp. I’m in the latter camp.

I think I have only met our current PM once. If I recall, it was at a Radio 2 studio discussing football (about which he knows a lot and cares a lot too). So, face to face, I have little to go on. But based on that little I have to go on - and my public observation since - I think Andy Burnham is a decent bloke with a wide range of talents. High IQ. Excellent communication skills. Able to think sensibly and speak freely simultaneously. Genuinely wants to improve the state of affairs in the country – a country that he knows and loves. I have no qualms with his motives nor with his integrity.

My issue with our new PM is evidential.

He thinks Britain is fraying a little at the edges. I think it’s fundamentally broken. He thinks state intervention has not yet gone far enough. I think it has gone way too far.  He thinks that with a bit of goodwill and sincere leadership, we can turn the country around. I think it needs a fundamental governmental reset and that vast swathes of laws, processes and machinery need to be exorcised.

The fact that we, as a supposedly serious country, now burn through Prime Ministers faster than Premier League football teams fire managers is a serious signal that something has gone awry.

Those who have just been removed from the outgoing Starmer regime and, indeed, a plethora of Tories from the 2010-2024 period are all keen to tell us that “governing is difficult”. Why is it difficult? Make a decision and execute it – where’s the difficulty?

Tragically, I have reached the conclusion that they are right. Governing isn’t merely difficult for politicians – it’s essentially impossible. That is because we have now constructed a constitutional system in which a political decision typically cannot be executed. The government legal service won’t sign it off. The “stakeholders” will condemn it. The international protocols and treaties won’t allow it. Even if you clear these hurdles, someone will judicially review it. Democratic political decision-making has been reduced to something approximating an expressed wish rather than a command.

Andy Burnham thinks he can navigate this. I think he can’t.

We need to completely rewire the governmental system and dramatically reduce its expenditure, its number of employees and its legal reach to have any hope of recovery.

The dividing line in British politics is no longer left versus right but “stick with the system” versus “reset it”.

Those of a conservative mindset need to unite in the latter camp.

Keep the flag of freedom flying!