Paranoia in the Labour Party: the Andy Burnham enigma

The State Of It

Andy Burnham is keeping his cards close to his chest and no one seems to know who'll get what job. That means there's a huge amount of paranoia and jostling for position the Labour Party. Cabinet ministers and MPs are lavishing praise upon him, but they're worried about his plans - both on policy and personnel. There's a lot of ill-feeling that could bubble up to the surface surprisingly quickly.


Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times

Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times


Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson

Executive producer: Molly Guinness


Picture: Getty Images


00:00 - Burnham's Intense One-on-One MP Meetings

00:32 - Paranoia and Panic in the Cabinet

01:44 - Will Burnham Appeal to Southern Voters?

02:50 - Desperate Ministers Begging to Keep Their Jobs

03:40 - The Ghost of 2007: Burnham's "Woman Problem"

06:13 - Ed Miliband's Chancellor Dilemma

07:18 - How Departments Are Pandering to Burnham

08:29 - Is David Miliband Making a Comeback?

10:54 - The Real Reason Angela Rayner Has Been Weakened

13:10 - Burnham's Frustration with Westminster "Ambulance Chasers"

16:56 - A Long Goodbye: Starmer's Farewell Barbecues

17:30 - The £15 Billion Defence Plan Black Hole

18:20 - Government Paralysis and the Rochdale Case

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