Andy Burnham faces an impossible job. At least he’s got a secret weapon – Kemi Badenoch

Labour is up against a Tory party with a leader who can’t stop getting lost in her own sense of brilliance.

And then there’s Andrew Griffith Call it the gentlest of all reality checks.

A quantum realignment in expectations.

The faintest reminder to both Andy Burnham and Labour backbenchers that international bond markets are impervious to Manchester charm and positivity.

Despite a summer of feel good announcements from the government, there is no escaping the fact that the country is still up shit creek.

It’s going to be a tough ride ahead.

Nothing will come pain free.

Still, a new prime minister has to learn to take the wins – however small – as they come along.

In the wider scheme of things, a good prime minister’s questions means next to nothing: it’s nothing more than politics as performance.

Yet it can set the tone and buy a prime minister some goodwill from MPs and the media.

Plus, it’s a weekly event so you may as well be good at it.

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