A big operation is underway by Angela Rayner to get the attention of Team Burnham. Seeing as he’s going to be PM in less than three weeks there is a big rush for jobs going on…
A briefing appeared in the Telegraph suggesting that because Burnham was a fan of devolution – proposals for which Rayner has worked on for some time – the ex-DPM has a top advising role and is expected to get a job in his government. Included was the suggestion she might be made Chief Secretary to the Treasury to oversee Team Burnham’s war with that department…
Rayner wasn’t at Burnham’s speech. She gave one of her own last night at the left-wing think tank the New Economics Foundation where she was full of praise for Burnham’s policies, which are currently 1) devolve more powers and 2) build council houses. A big fall for someone who was going to run for the leadership just weeks ago…
Tom Baldwin, author of Starmer’s hagiography, spoke to Times Radio:
Tom Baldwin: “I think he’d like to do something. He’s very dutiful and driven by service. That’s why he came into politics. I think that’s characterised his time as prime minister. He hasn’t always sought popularity or been good at being popular. But I think he has some of the necessary qualities that we actually do want in a prime minister. That resilience, that relentlessness, that ability to carry the weight and the job really does weigh very heavily on people and he carries that weight very, very well.”
Jo Coburn: “NATO Secretary-General?”
Tom Baldwin: “I think that’s something that he would be interested in. I think it probably requires Andy Burnham’s government to support him in that and these are some of the questions which Andy Burnham has to resolve quite quickly.”