Andy Burnham’s first week in Downing Street has been full of promises - but can he keep everyone happy and still balance the books?

Hugo, Sally, Polly and Danny look at the prime minister’s first week in power, from his plans for public services and tax cuts, to the questions over how he will pay for them. 

They also discuss John Healey’s appointment as Chancellor, the fallout from the purge of Starmer allies, and whether Burnham’s approach risks trying to please everyone.

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Andy Burnham will soon be making his first speech from Downing Street as prime minister - how will he introduce himself to the nation?

The team discuss striking the right balance between optimism and acknowledging the scale of the challenge, and look back at their role in preparing speeches for Tony Blair, David Cameron and Nick Clegg. And, does the choice of lectern actually matter?

We also answer a question from a listener who asks whether Nigel Farage could lose the Clacton by-election.

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This week the political masterminds are answering more of your questions.

Does Andy Burnham risk becoming all things to all people, and will that inevitably result in disappointment? What jobs would Sally, Polly and Danny have in No 10 North?

Have former military figures seized the agenda over defence spending, and is Labour worrying enough about a possible Tory revival?

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And you can watch the podcast on YouTube here

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Nigel Farage has announced his resignation as an MP, saying he will fight a 'people versus the establishment' by-election in Clacton.

Is it a high risk stunt by the Reform UK leader? When have by-elections backfired in the past, and will it make questions about his finances, and his future, go away?

Hugo, Sally, Polly and Danny analyse Farage's gamble.

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What have we learned so far about Andy Burnham's plan for government? Danny has been reading his book, Head North, and thinks he's proposing a clear left turn when it comes to the economy and public services.

Does Burnham's vision of a more devolved United Kingdom add up to an electoral strategy, or is that actually coming from Morgan McSweeney's playbook?

Plus: We're joined by comedian and host of the How To Win The World Cup podcast Matt Forde to discuss whether success on the football pitch can give a boost at the ballot box.

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The team bring their years of experience inside Downing Street to the question of how Andy Burnham will construct his cabinet, and who he could pick as chancellor.

After the return of James Purnell as chief of staff, is there a risk of having too many veterans of the Blair and Brown years back in power?

And - Polly sets out her vision for replacing Chequers with a Mar-a-Lago-style resort in Blackpool.

Send your questions, voicenotes and views on Polly's policy to [email protected]

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Sally and Danny join Hugo for this extra episode to examine the Keir Starmer legacy - if there is one - and ask whether Andy Burnham could be a more consequential leader than the consensus gives him credit for.

And, how will Reform UK attack Burnham - can they make the label 'Captain Flip-flop' stick?

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Andy Burnham has won, and won big in the Makerfield by-election - what happens next in Downing Street and the Labour Party, and what does it all mean for the next general election?

Sally, Polly, Danny and Hugo discuss Keir Starmer's insistence he won't walk away from No 10, the reaction of the cabinet, who will get the top jobs in a Burnham government, and whether Reform UK will need to change strategy.

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We're only a week away from the Makerfield by-election, when voters could choose the next prime minister.

If Andy Burnham wins, what happens in the hours and days after he arrives in Westminster? Will he seize the moment and try to challenge Keir Starmer immediately, or wait until he has a plan for running the country?

And if he wins, what does it mean for Reform UK's electoral strategy?

We also look at Steve Hilton's journey from David Cameron's modernising adviser to the race to be the next governor of California.

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How is Andy Burnham defining his vision for the country as he tries to win the Makerfield by-election?

Sally, Polly, Danny and Hugo discuss whether the (possible) next prime minister can really wind back the clock back 40 years, whether Nigel Farage has taken a risk in his response to the murder of Henry Nowak, and whether Kemi Badenoch can define Labour as the party of welfare.

Send your messages, voicenotes, praise and criticism to [email protected]

A full list of the candidates in the Makerfield by-election is available here.

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Former cabinet minister, former deputy prime minister, big beast of the Tory jungle - Lord Heseltine joins us for our series looking at how the most significant elections of our lifetimes were won, and how they were lost.

He takes us back to the 1983 general election. Margaret Thatcher was fresh from victory in the Falklands, Labour offered voters the 'longest suicide vote in history', and the polls suggested the SDP-Liberal Alliance could break the old two-party system.

If you enjoyed this episode, listen to more in the series:

Nick Clegg and 2010

William Hague and 2005

Neil Kinnock and 1992

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