Guido hears Andy Burnham is exploring a few creative ways to get into the Commons. Anyone want to be the mayor of Manchester?
Labour sources say the PM-hopeful is offering ‘job-swaps’ to MPs in exchange for them standing down. He’d support their ascension to his mayoralty…
Jim McMahon’s name has cropped up. The sacked minister has a reason to work against Starmer and his Labour-heavy Oldham West and Royton seat works for Burnham. Andy only has one shot so he needs a super-safe seat…
Labour sources say Nandy in Wigan or Lucy Powell in Manchester Central are contenders but unlikely to take any deal. Powell in particular fancies herself a rising star…
Burnham’s term as mayor expires in May 2028. He needs to move fast – this year – otherwise it doesn’t make sense to blow up the mayoralty just before the term ends…
Paula Barker, Liverpool Wavertree MP backing Andy Burnham, told Times Radio there wouldn’t be trouble from the markets under Burnham:
“The markets will have to fall in line.”