Andy Burnham is rethinking plans to appoint Ed Miliband as his Chancellor, according to his supporters.

The Energy Secretary was being lined up to take over from Rachel Reeves if Burnham succeeds in his bid to become prime minister, but several sources told The i Paper that the new Makerfield MP may have cooled on the idea.

While Miliband is a favourite among the Labour Party membership – frequently topping polls of the most popular Cabinet minister – he is less popular with the public.

Shorts

A senior party source said: “He [Burnham] knows it would be problematic.”