Andy Burnham is pulling together his top team as he hashes out what a Downing Street operation would look like with him at the helm. Making a triumphant return to Westminster yesterday, he paused for a selfie with adoring MPs just hours after their old boss threw in the towel. But whilst MPs jostle for ministerial jags, who's in the top team keeping his plans under lock and key as Mr Burnham sizes up the curtains at No10?
The Transition Team Members
Louise Haigh, a Sheffield-born granddaughter of trade union officials and privately educated Labour MP, was turfed off Team Starmer after it emerged she had committed fraud. Now running Burnham's transition team, the former Transport Minister admitted to fibbing about being mugged for her mobile in 2013 so she could get a new one for free.
Lord Jim O'Neill, the banker-turned-peer, is being touted as one of the men giving economic credibility to Burnham's budgetary plans. From Goldman Sachs he headed off to advise David Cameron, before being elevated to the Lords in 2015 and continuing as a trusted counselor to Theresa May.
Andy Haldane, once a Bank of England economist, sat on the Levelling Up Taskforce under Michael Gove. He is also reported to be adding his weight to the Burnham transition, lending credence to his financial plans.
Miatta Fahnbulleh, born in Liberia and now MP for Peckham, has a long history in the left-leaning think tank sphere. She was a member of the influential think tank 'Labour Together' and has backed radical action to address the climate crisis and a rewiring of the modern economic system.
Josh Simons, the former MP for Makerfield, bolted from his seat to hand it to Burnham. Now he has been richly rewarded with a place in Burnham's inner circle. He stepped aside after being exposed as being behind an investigation into the private affairs of journalists when he ran Labour Together, after which he was accused of falsely linking members of the press to pro-Russian propaganda and reporting them to British intelligence services.
Abby Tomlinson, now working closely within the Burnham campaign team, was the mind behind the 'Milifandom' – a digital trend that saw jokes shared to defend former Labour leader Ed Miliband. She is now backing her new boss, Mr Burnham.
Grace Pritchard, another Miliband ally, was seconded to the Burnham campaign fresh out of the Net Zero Department where she was Ed's special advisor. Now the official spokesman for the wannabe PM, when she speaks it is on his behalf, making her one of the most influential people ever at Burnham's side.
Impact and Next Steps
According to Aaron Newbury, Political Correspondent, the team is pivotal as Burnham sizes up a potential bid for Number 10. The group combines political experience, economic expertise, and digital strategy to craft a viable Downing Street operation. Burnham's return to Westminster has energized his supporters, but the secrecy of this inner circle suggests a carefully orchestrated plan for leadership.
