‘He knows what he thinks’: how ready is Andy Burnham to become PM?

The brief

Just 20 minutes’ walk along the road to Wigan Pier, Andy Burnham’s own route back to Westminster was cemented. At the Edge community centre, about a mile from the famous canal wharf, the result of the Makerfield byelection was announced, surpassing even his highest expectations. “Andy knew running in Makerfield was high risk but it was the proof point he needed to show the Labour party and the country that if he could win there, he could win anywhere. He got 55% of the vote. It worked,” one of his team said. After the result, an exhilarated Burnham headed with his family back to Stubshaw Cross, the social club that…