Prime Minister Burnham’s performance so far exposes a confused leader who backs down under pressure.

His retreat on water renationalisation, renewed speculation about Brexit, unquestioning support for Ukraine and retreat over Israel reveals a politician reacting to events rather than pursuing a coherent strategy.

He challenges neither powerful financial interests at home nor the foreign-policy establishment abroad. The supposed “Burnham Bounce” spin is no substitute for a clear programme. An early general election would expose these failures and lead to almost certain defeat.

His flirtation with reversing Brexit illustrates his lack of strategic judgement. I voted against Brexit. That does not mean rejoining the EU is now the right answer. Another referendum would reopen deep divisions.

Reversing Brexit without one would be worse and give Reform nationalists an opportunity to exploit public discontent. Joining the EU monetary Union as a condition of re-entry would be a disaster for the UK. Without the pound’s independence we lose too much sovereignty and control. And why dig this divisive row up again?

His other foreign policies are even more alarming. His very first foreign visit endorsed Ukraine where policy has been shaped by the intelligence and foreign-policy establishments that backed

NATO expansion and the subsequent war. More than £25 billion has been poured into it. The NHS bleeds while Ukraine is being devastated. Britain risks deeper involvement with an increasingly unfavourable outcome. We should help negotiate an end to the war, not encourage illusions of military victory.

The same confused weakness emerged over Israel. Ed Miliband promised Britain would stand up to the Israeli government. Yet, following pressure from pro-Israel interests, Burnham undermined him and accepted the downgrading of Britain’s East Jerusalem consulate to a smaller mission, weakening our influence. Once again, rhetoric collapsed when political pressure mounted.

He then had the temerity to viciously attack the Greens in Parliament accusing them and their Jewish Leader, Zack Polanski, of being ‘antisemitic’ for daring to say the obvious – that Zionism as it manifests itself in Israel - is overt racism.

The man is either a fool, playing politics – or cowardly surrendering, as did Starmer, to the pro-Israel lobby.

There was the expectation of an apology when he said, ‘We got it wrong on Gaza’. There has been none. It looks like crocodile tears over a genocide that Labour still refuses to acknowledge.

He will pay the political price for this as the true horror becomes fully exposed. Burnham mistakes the appearance of power for the ability to exercise it. He bows to financial interests at home, follows the foreign-policy establishment abroad and clings to the illusion that Britain remains a great power.

Economic reconstruction and ordinary people’s needs are neglected. He should be focussed on stabilising things and keeping away from pointless conflict, not beating the drums of war.

And so, politics continues just as before: soundbites, managed appearances, empty promises and calculated retreats. The same interests continue to call the tune. He is out of his depth.

Another empty vessel. Starmer Mark 2.