It could have been a messy transition, but the ease with which Andy Burnham has returned to Westminster appears to be the product of many months of careful planning. Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy, in their Politics at Sam and Anne's podcast, delve into the details of how Burnham's expected coronation has been managed – and why Louise Haigh has emerged as a key architect behind the scenes.
The duo also dissect Donald Trump's first public comments on the man widely seen as Sir Keir Starmer's likely replacement. The US president broke his silence on Burnham with a blunt verdict, labelling him “extremely liberal”. The remark raises questions about the future relationship between Washington and London.
“Andy Burnham's smooth return to Westminster after months of careful planning, with Louise Haigh key behind the scenes.”
Meanwhile, Rachel Reeves has fallen in behind Burnham. But the podcast asks: can she, and will she, survive as chancellor?
The podcast is available on Apple Music, Amazon Music and Sky News.