What could Andy Burnham's premiership mean for Wales?

Andy Burnham has arguably made a stuttering start to his relationship with Wales after early missteps in an online article and a change of direction on funding.

There is still plenty of uncertainty about where he wants to go with Wales, although he has clarified that he won't tell the Welsh government how to run devolved public services.

He has also said he would also like to see "deeper" devolution to Welsh councils, but could put himself on an early collision course with the Plaid Cymru Welsh government.

As the former "King of the North" prepares for his "coronation" as Labour leader on Friday, we might now have a clue as to what "deeper devolution" could mean.

Last month the UK government announced plans to give mayors in England - in places like Greater Manchester, Liverpool and London - more control over research and development funding with the aim of boosting economic growth.

Work has apparently been underway at the Wales Office for similar powers to be given to Wales' four Corporate Joint Committees (CJCs) - which are made up of local councils joining forces together.

They were set up by the Welsh government in 2021 and are responsible for "strategic planning, regional transport planning and economic wellbeing".

A Welsh Labour source told BBC Wales that Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens and Welsh Labour leader Ken Skates "had been pushing for the devolution of local innovation funding for some time".

"If rolled out it will ensure regions have a direct say in how they want to grow their local economy," the source said.

Speaking on Wednesday, Skates said he would "love" to see it, citing Liverpool and Manchester as evidence of what could be achieved.

The new Welsh government appears less enamoured.

In a statement it said: "Decisions about regional governance arrangements in Wales are the responsibility of the Welsh government and Senedd, and we would expect the UK government to respect that.

"The development of regional devolution in England should result in the evolution of the constitutional and fiscal arrangements of the devolved governments."

Asked about the risk of the Welsh government being bypassed, Skates did not directly answer the question, saying: "Insofar as the risk, it was the Welsh government that created CJCs with the purpose of driving economic growth and better planning."

He added that devolution could take place "not necessarily to Cardiff Bay but actually onward to the regions".

"So I have no problem in CJCs having greater control over the tools that drive economic development, including research and innovation funding."

A UK government source close to the discussions said devolution to CJCs could "co-exist" in a constructive relationship with the Welsh government and would not constitute telling Wales how to run public services.

We do not know if this plan for innovation funding will actually come to pass.

It is one of many questions for Andy Burnham still to answer.

We do not know what further powers he would be open to devolving to the Welsh government.

It has a long list of demands, including powers over policing, the entire justice system, rail and the Crown Estate.

We do not know what plans he has on funding, Barnett formula aside.

There is optimism within Welsh Labour that Burnham can help turn its fortunes around after May's bruising Senedd election defeat.

Skates has already spoken this week of the need to "bring the party together" after internal Labour rows - which sometimes spilled over publicly - about the pace and extent of further devolution.

There has also been public debate - sometimes heated - about the reasons for the defeat.

Plaid Cymru won the argument in May over which party was best-placed to stand up for Wales.

The new first minister, Rhun ap Iorwerth, will be keen to press his demands when he gets a first meeting with the new prime minister.

And if there are "wins" for Wales - whatever they might look like - expect a race between Plaid Cymru and Labour to claim credit for them.