Would it hurt Andy Burnham to smarten up his appearance? - Sarah Todd

Half asleep on Monday morning, the initially muffled sounds of the television news reporters filled the room. They were talking about the holder of our nation’s highest office, the Prime Minister, arriving in Ukraine for his first overseas visit since taking over the reins.

After a few moments curiosity got the better of your correspondent. An arm was tentatively tipped out from under the duvet, a glass of water negotiated and a pair of glasses found.

“Bet he’s wearing a t-shirt,” was mumbled to the snorer alongside who would much rather be watching repeats of Michael Portillo’s train journeys or programmes documenting the restoration of classic cars.

Of course, as the pillow was plumped up and the lenses looked through, there was our Andy Burnham getting off the train in Kyiv Railway Station. Did he look statesmanlike? Somebody not to be messed with if you were President Putin tuning in from Russia?

Don’t be daft. The gentleman - sorry bloke - in question looked like he was on the last bus home from Manchester city centre after a pint or two with the lads. Or possibly a not-very-funny warm-up act in a comedy club; the zip up the front of the polo shirt making it even more cringeworthy. That bit of bling hinting at some trendy designer brand, full of man-made fibres and costing more than most family’s weekly supermarket shop.

He was met at the station by Ukraine’s foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, who looked to be sporting a suit of traditional design, representative of his country’s heritage.

Of course, does what our Prime Minister wear matter? Keyboards will be rattling; readers raging that the plight of the Ukrainian people out trumps one man’s clothing choices. This, of course, is true.

But while we’ve mentioned the trump word, the President of the United States’s meeting with Ukraine’s President Zelensky, when the latter visited the Oval Office, was memorable for all the wrong reasons.

However, the disrespect felt by Trump’s team, especially after the US Congress has made available $195bn in spending related to the war in Ukraine, was entirely understandable. On a basic level would it have hurt for Zelensky to put on a suit rather than his trademark t-shirt?

He has made his point about using his clothing to represent the average Ukrainian involved in this war effort. Sticking to it, in this instance, had undertones of petulance. He knew Trump, a man of a certain generation, expected him to wear a suit. Was not doing so rather like a spoilt child, embarrassing their parents by refusing to get dressed up for tea with grandparents. Like any awkward youngster, he was right to get a telling off.

But back to Burnham. He’s of an age now that he should know that a good suit, made of British wool, will last far longer than any trendy top. Certainly offering much more longevity than the average amount of time any recent incumbent has resided at Number 10 Downing Street.

Thinking aloud, he wore a perfectly decent one for his appointment as Prime Minister. An online search reveals it was made by London tailor Oliver Brown, using 100 per cent merino wool woven in Yorkshire (maybe he’s not so bad then).

Mind you, another one wouldn’t go amiss. He could nip in on a work-from-home Friday lunchtime to get measured up by Edwin DeBoise. He is Manchester’s only fully Savile Row-trained bespoke tailor, the sort of young entrepreneur that this country needs to be backing.

So much better than using taxpayers’ money to kit our Prime Minister out in something a darts player would waddle up to the oche in. Polyester straining over middle-aged tummies is never a good look.

To finish on a sartorially more positive note, last week’s Ebor Festival at York Racecourse, put a very well-shod shoe forward.

Some of the social media clips from the races have been brilliant, with canny Yorkshire lasses talking tanned presenters through their outfits.

Gems like “I’ve had this hat 40 years” and “These are my mum’s shoes” and “I made this dress” gave hope that Britain isn’t quite broken.

Not to be outdone the racecourse’s patron, Queen Camilla, rewore a favourite dress that has seen her through countless public appearances over the years, including her recent tour of the United States.

The matching ties worn by the team involved in the winner of the last race on the card, the sprinter Sondad, were wonderful. His smartly suited 95-year-old trainer Mick Easterby beaming at the winning jockey - who just happened to be his granddaughter - was undoubtedly a Yorkshire moment of the year.

Come on Prime Minister, pull your socks up.