WHAT was supposed to be a “new style of politics” felt strangely familiar.
Andy Burnham’s offer of “problem-solving not point-scoring” quickly descended into the Punch and Judy PMQs of old.
Labour MPs dutifully cheered their new leader – what choice do they have? – but in many ways it was pure Starmer.
As Kemi Badenoch collared him on tax and spend, the PM’s blokey charm gave way to the finger-jabbing that defined his predecessor’s approach.
He reached for that classic break-glass-in-case-of-emergency Labour response of bringing up Liz Truss.
He mentioned her name more than once, in fact, as he banged on about “14 years of Tory government”.
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For a man who went to such great lengths to secure the job of PM, there is a danger of slipping into that classic Starmer trap of looking in the rear view mirror.
Burnham is similarly in danger of giving impatient voters another history lesson they do not need.
They know what the Tories did and booted them into electoral touch.
Now they want those who sought the levers of power to take responsibility and crack on.
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On substance, again Burnham was found lacking but admitted that was largely by design.
He does not want to box himself on tax and spend ahead of next month’s Budget where he faces gruesome choices.
But by not ruling out tax rises, voters will draw their own conclusions.
PMQs may have the same old shouting, but sometimes it’s what the politicians don’t say that speak loudest.