It has been quite a while since the UK had a leader with a gift for clear and inspirational communication. Andy Burnham, the presumptive prime minister, has these skills in abundance.

As he sought to engage his electorate of 411 Labour MPs on Monday, he crystalised the nation’s challenge through a lens aligned to his personality and experience – investment beyond London, collaboration over conflict, hope in every heart, and good growth for all.

It is a message that was intended to resonate with a wider audience but is not what you expect to hear from the leader of a party at start of year three of a parliamentary term. Year three should be the year of the landing of policy promises.

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