Read all about it in this week's Who's Top, Who's Not - brought to you by Whitehouse's Max Wilson
Top: Andy Burnham
The King of the North was officially confirmed as Labour’s candidate in the Makerfield by-election. It was by no means certain that Labour’s NEC would approve Burnham to be the candidate as, should he prove successful, Labour will still need to fund a very precarious and very expensive Manchester Mayoral by-election.
But history beckons for our Andy should he manage to navigate a very tricky by-election in which Reform is likely to perform well. Most by-election candidates talk up their local routes and determination to be a local champion but, in a video, posted on social media Burnham took a much broader approach, painting a more national picture of the new politics he wants to embody.
The scrutiny is starting to increase on Burnham – hence the backtracking on rejoining the EU and his support for the Home Secretary’s immigration reforms – but he should expect more of it as he might potentially have to fight three elections/selections in three months: the by-election in June; securing 81 leadership nominations from Labour MPs in July, as well as union/affiliated society/CLP nominations; and then the votes of party members to be the next Labour leader and then PM in August. Let’s hope Andy has the electoral stamina.
Middle: Wes Streeting
After his head-spinning resignation as Health Secretary, preceded by several of his allies, Wes Streeting is settling into his new role of competing with Andy Burnham to be the OTHER thorn in the prime minister’s side.
Streeting seems to be enjoying his newfound freedom, shorn as he now is of collective responsibility in government. First, he went (predictably) big on rejoining the EU – a double win in singing some of the party membership’s favorite song and causing dome electoral discomfort for his chief rival Andy Burnham.
Next, he outlined some of his economic ideas, including a raise in capital gains tax. In an attempt to woo party members, Wes rebranded this move as ‘a wealth tax that works’.
Expect more of these Labour member-friendly interventions in the coming weeks, but possibly fewer political games that hurt Burnham if Wes hopes to return to cabinet soon and thinks that will only happen under the King in the North.
Bottom: Sir Desmond Swayne
The best-dressed man in SW1 had the unique distinction this week of chalking up a big win as a massive failure. The MP for New Forest West won first place in the House of Commons' private members bill (PMB) ballot, giving him the best chance to create his own piece of legislation.
PMBs rarely go anywhere but those at the top of the ballot stand a better chance than most, and there have been historic examples of legislation successfully being introduced after starting out as private member’s bills.
But the opportunity was wasted on Sir Desmond who wants to see existing laws repealed rather than new ones introduced. Perhaps he will introduce legislation to ban the PMB ballot?