Burnham's PMQs debut shows the challenge of delivering new style of politics

Throughout the summer Andy Burnham's been attempting to cultivate a new style of communicating with a steady stream of social media videos designed to speak directly to the public.

But alongside his digital push, the prime minister still has to master one of Westminster's weekly traditions; the political back and forth that is Prime Minister's Questions.

To some it might seem outdated in a modern media world, but the exchange across the despatch box is still deemed vital by many in Westminster as a moment of scrutiny; a chance for the public to peer into Parliament's workings and a crucial factor in setting the mood among backbench MPs as they watch – and judge – the performance of party leaders.

Badenoch presses Burnham on borrowing costs at his first Prime Minister's Questions

Burnham took his place in the House of Commons chamber to raucous cheers from the packed Labour benches and struck a confident tone from the start, clearly keen to maintain the sense of optimism he's promised the country.

His initial exchanges with Kemi Badenoch were vaguely jocular. The Conservative leader started with a joke about the prime minister's stamina after a marathon Commons' session on Tuesday when he took questions for more than three hours; there was laughter from MPs and a cautious smile from Burnham.

But if there was an early twinkle in the eye of either party leader their exchanges soon slipped into more familiar territory, trading barbs over tax and borrowing with Badenoch making claims of profligate government spending.

Burnham, despite his promises to end what he's called political "point scoring" was soon pointing the finger at the Tories for their economic record, referencing the budget of former Prime Minister Liz Truss while promising he'd deliver fiscal discipline.