Can Andy Burnham rewire the ‘Treasury brain’ to boost growth?

Andy Burnham said the ‘new No 10 North innovation is more significant than people realise.’ Photograph: Jeff Overs/Reuters

Andy Burnham is far from the first prime minister to dream of taming the power of the mighty Treasury.

Boris Johnson all but forced the resignation of Sajid Javid by handpicking his team; Margaret Thatcher favoured her economic adviser Alan Walters over Nigel Lawson, prompting the latter’s furious resignation; and Tony Blair and Gordon Brown’s power struggle was the stuff of Whitehall legend.