In these quite frankly desperate times for British progressivism, with Keir Starmer’s deeply unpopular government crumbling under the weight of its own timid orthodoxy, many on the left are (still) casting about for a saviour. Enter Andy Burnham, the apparent “King of the North”, Greater Manchester Mayor, and newly energised contender for the Labour leadership. Polls show Burnham is outpacing Starmer among Labour members, which really shouldn’t be too difficult. Burnham’s folksy charm and occasional rhetorical flourishes about public control of essential utilities play rather well in working-class heartlands. So let’s be absolutely clear from the word go. Andy Burnham is…