Andy Burnham claims he has a plan for change – it’s a shame he still hasn’t told us what it is

As Andy Burnham was announced as the new leader of the Labour Party with 379 nominations from MPs and the backing of all the affiliated trade unions and socialist groups – he vowed “I am ready” to lead and pledged an agenda for change.

The atmosphere of Labour members in the room was positive as they welcomed their new leader, who told them to stop fighting each other and get together to fight “the new right”.

In an acceptance speech which went on for almost 40 minutes, Mr Burnham was full of good vibes, emphasising his attitude as a man of the people and someone who has learnt from his past mistakes.

But as a new era starts, there are still so many uncertainties. When he said “I have a plan”, those of us outside the cheering party members, would have liked a bit more detail on what exactly that plan is.

Extraordinarily, Mr Burnham admitted that with just three days before taking up the most important office in the country, he still has not decided who will fill his top ministerial positions – although there is some scepticism about that claim.

Instead his five key points can be summed up as party unity, national unity, a new politics to fix big problems, more devolution and being “distinctively Labour”.

None of these things really put flesh on the bone on what he means when he pledges to reverse four decades of economic consensus with an end to Thatcherite policies, or the so-called “Makerfield test” on whether things benefit communities and the working classes so often left behind.

There was some humility, though, from a man who is promising “the biggest turning point” in British politics for 40 years. It came when he revealed that his personal turning point – the point at which he knew he had to do things differently – came when he was booed by Liverpool fans at the Kop in 2009 over his failure to deal with the issues of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster properly.

Mr Burnham, though, is clear about the challenge, as he told his party that “this is a last chance”.

There was some sage nodding from the historic figures present who were scarred by Labour’s battles of the 1980s.

The new Labour leader referenced Neil Kinnock, Margaret Beckett and David Blunkett as inspirational figures from his political journey. They were there for the applause but also as a warning.

Few of Keir Starmer’s cabinet were present – least of all the outgoing leader himself, who was pushed out of the job partly because he did not have a plan but also because he chose factionalism over unity.

Deputy leader Lucy Powell, a long time Burnham ally, was there to introduce him, while home secretary Shabana Mahmood, expected to be named as his new chancellor, read out the result in her role as chair of the National Executive Committee (NEC). Scottish leader Anas Sarwar was present, as was chief whip Jonathan Reynolds and a handful of MPs.

Many more had chosen to start their summer holidays.

But the words of the new leader will have been heard. With Reform on the point of imploding and the Tories still struggling to be taken seriously, Labour now has an opportunity.

The question is whether Mr Burnham has the real vision and leadership to take it. He now has three years to show he can seize the opportunity.