Andy #Burnham has chosen his #Blairite former colleague #James Purnell as his chief of staff. 🤮

No surprise that the Blairism is winning out over his #Manchesterism. But still, 🤮🤮🤮🤮🤮

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2026/jun/23/andy-burnham-picks-former-blair-minister-james-purnell-as-his-chief-of-staff

#ukpol

Andy Burnham picks former Blair minister James Purnell as his chief of staff

Decision is one of Makerfield MP’s most significant since his Westminster return as he builds his team for government

The Guardian
@2legged I don't know how much of a Chief of Staff's role is influential and how much just functional. I'm hoping that the appointment is just a token appointment, and not an indication that Burnham has become centrist establishment.

@chris108 Its very v influential.

The Chief of Staff does policy oversight. personnel management, control of access to the PM.

@2legged Oh, that doesn't sound good.