Andy Burnham could appoint Manchester policing chief Kate Green as his No 10 chief of staff, sack David Lammy and bring Josh Simons – the former MP who quit to make way for the Manchester Mayor – into No 10, as his team wargame next steps if he wins Thursday’s Makerfield by-election.
The Greater Manchester Mayor has also been receiving advice from Baroness Sue Gray, the former senior civil servant who briefly worked as Keir Starmer’s chief of staff, as he prepares for Downing Street.
Burnham and Starmer are gearing up for a showdown next week when the mayor hopes to return to Parliament to challenge the Prime Minister. On Wednesday, Starmer said he would offer Burnham a job in his Cabinet – an offer which Burnham allies say he will reject.
Shorts
If Burnham does claim the Labour leadership, he will bring a new team to No 10.
