Just one month ago, Andy Burnham was still mayor of Manchester. He had not even returned as an MP as he waited for the constituents in Makerfield to cast their votes in the by-election.
Today, though, he has been unveiled as the new Labour leader, replacing Sir Keir Starmer in a bloodless coup after emerging in a leadership “contest” as the only candidate for the job. On Monday he will be confirmed as the UK’s new prime minister.