For a man who wasn’t even an MP four weeks ago to be preparing to become our new Prime Minister is certainly a sign Andy Burnham knows how to climb the greasy pole of politics.
So will his policies ensure growth for the travel industry? Or will it simply be more of the same with higher taxes and little incentive for investment?
He, like every Prime Minister before him, claims he will pursue growth, but the economic health of the UK isn’t entirely in our own hands. We need low inflation and low interest rates to ensure a feel-good factor which will encourage travel, but all-too-often, outside influences throw us off course.
Our closest ally in Washington DC has already done enough this year to threaten world trade and, with it, travel – and he still has his eyes on Cuba, Greenland, even Canada. Cuba has been decimated and its travel industry destroyed by his blockades this year, and his future intentions are totally unpredictable.
Burnham needs to ensure he keeps the City on side – if they lose faith, his time in Number 10, whether that's in London or Manchester (and that of itself seems to be a potentially expensive exercise), will be short. Just ask Ms Truss.
His economic policies have to ensure we are not spending more than we can afford, and sound public finances will still be a byword for his reign.
He has always had a real interest in transport and won praise for his work restructuring public transport in Manchester. His choice of Louise Haigh, a former Transport Secretary, as his campaign leader in his Makerfield constituency suggests that interest continues.
He has always expressed opposition to any growth at Heathrow. And after Gatwick last week successfully saw off local opposition to its second runway plan, this probably means Heathrow has little, or indeed no, chance of support from Burnham in the future.
He has also shown interest in keeping local high streets alive and has expressed an interest in reviewing business rates, a real concern to travel agents. He has spoken about raising the threshold below which no business rates are payable; if that happens, some agencies may be much better off.
He has also indicated he would look, but not promise, to raise personal tax allowances – anything that increases workers' pay at the end of the month must be good for travel. He claims to have a 10-year plan to raise living standards, but you have to survive 10 years for that to come to fruition.
We know he is even more favourable towards the EU than even Keir Starmer was, so anything that could get us out of the mess that is the EU Entry-Exit System has to be a benefit for all of us.
His other expressed interest is gaining more control over utility companies. Having just received a ridiculously high water bill from Southern Water, I fully endorse anything to bring more control and a better standard of service to water and gas and electricity providers.
Hopefully a change in Prime Minister will produce, no matter how short term, a boost to consumer confidence and with it a boost to last-minute bookings. But seven Prime Ministers in ten years doesn't make us appear a terribly easy country to manage.
What we need is stability, and the only possible contender for that appears to be Larry, the Downing Street cat, who has outlasted them all.
Alan Bowen is legal advisor to the Association of Atol Companies.
