And those who work inside government also credit a more effective political operation around the prime minister. “The system’s better, you get clearer decisions, better steers when you need them,” says a minister.
Another government source also credits the new Downing Street operation but notes wryly, “it’s unfair to compare the end of a regime which is always pretty nasty, with the arrival of a new one which is always more hopeful… these things can change”.
There are whispers of announcements in the next few days on housing and defence. Some MPs also want to hear Burnham expand on themes they, and the country, have heard plenty about but that aren’t specifically defined – “public control” and “re-industrialisation”.
And frankly, the happy prime minister would likely be only too glad to talk for as long as necessary about those favourite subjects.
But however much he loves being PM there are also less tempting realities he’ll have to confront.
“It’s a new front man,” says a minister, “but the song hasn’t changed.”
And the soundtrack to this autumn might prove to be downright miserable.
While Andy Burnham will be pressing the flesh at dozens of party events in the next few days, his Chancellor John Healey will be spending a lot of time holed up in his hotel room making decisions about the Budget which is only a month away.
The pressure on public cash is intense as the budget approaches – the choice for the chancellor doing the rounds is, “10 billion of cuts or 10 billion of tax rises,” according to a well-connected senior figure.
Treasury sources say they don’t recognise that simple number. However the figures shake down, the increasing cost of paying the interest on the country’s debts weighs heavily.
Don’t forget the rising welfare bill, demands for more defence spending. It’s unusual that a party conference is happening with a budget just weeks away, and it looms over the conference, just as the state of the economy looms over Labour’s current feel-good factor.
The UK can’t force the US and Iran to find peace, to get traffic flowing freely through the Strait of Hormuz, to bring the oil price down. Nor can the prime minister make Putin bring his war on Ukraine to an end, with pressure on European gas supply as we enter another winter.
