"Burnham has never played the game of pretending that he doesn't seek to enter No 10. But he also does not give the standard ambitious politician's response of saying that no vacancy is available. Instead, he takes a more honest approach: that he would not have run twice to be leader of the Labour party if he didn't want the job."
"Over the years, he has left Keir Starmer in no doubt that he hopes to one day to succeed him. But no one including Burnham thought the question would come this soon. Starmer's government has plunged in popularity, Nigel Farage's Reform is on the rise, a huge Commons rebellion on welfare has weakened the prime minister and three scandals in a fortnight have seen a deputy leader and ambassador depart."
"After a summer dominated by Farage, more and more MPs have begun to believe their salvation lies north. They range from socialist MPs who admired Burnham's anti-factionalism, to centrist new-intake MPs who see what he has done for growth in Greater Manchester. His politics are now firmly at the progressive heart of the Labour party, one Labour insider said. His closest friend in politics these days, the mayor of Liverpool city region, Steve Rotheram, says the last seven years have been the making of Burnham."
Andy Burnham, mayor of Greater Manchester, emphasized enjoyment of his current role while acknowledging past bids for Labour leadership. He has not pretended to lack ambition for No 10 and has indicated he would not have run twice if he did not want the job. He has signalled his hope to succeed Keir Starmer. Recent political turbulence — falling government popularity, Nigel Farage's Reform rise, a Commons welfare rebellion and multiple scandals — has intensified interest in a northern alternative. A broad range of MPs praise his anti-factionalism and regional growth record, and allies say seven years as mayor have matured his politics.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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