The Unwelcome Responsibility of a New Era Andy Burnham's promise of a "new direction" for Britain is being put to the test by the harsh realities of the economy.
He has inherited an economic landscape beset by challenges that defy easy solutions. Borrowing is high, the national debt has reached levels not seen since the 1960s, and growth remains stubbornly weak.
Burnham's commitment to sticking to Labour's current fiscal rules may reassure some, but it hardly addresses the concerns of those who fear the worst from his spending plans.