Charisma can only take you so far, but it’s a good start

Andy Burnham is back where he always belonged, writes James Kirkup - at the heart of Westminster’s political village

- James Kirkup

Andy Burnham is seizing his second chance to change history.

That’s just as well, because the first time, he bottled it.

That was back in 2009 when Burnham was a member of Gordon Brown’s cabinet. Brown was struggling as prime minister, much as Keir Starmer is struggling today. There was dissent in his cabinet, just as there is today. And in early June 2009, that dissent led to the resignation of a Blairite tribune. Then it was James Purnell playing the role most recently assumed by Wes Streeting in the Starmer era.

Purnell and Burnham were close friends. They had both been special advisers in the Blair government, both parachuted into safe Labour seats in the northwest of England in their early thirties, both risen to cabinet before 40.

The Purnell resignation electrified Westminster. Had he been followed out of cabinet by Burnham, there was a decent chance that Brown would fall and be replaced by David Miliband.

All eyes turned to Burnham. Would he gamble and try to bring down a failing leader? As it happened, Burnham chose to remain in office, and even got a promotion to health secretary.

Some Labour figures of that vintage still wonder how history might have been different had Brown been removed in 2009 and David Miliband had stepped in. If Burnham had made another choice, could Labour have clung to power at the 2010 general election, preventing David Cameron, austerity and Brexit? It's a question for future historians to ponder.