John Rentoul, chief political commentator – “He should get on with it and not let Starmer ‘squat in Downing Street’”
Burnham is as ready as he is going to be. I am told that his advisers are divided over whether he should try to become prime minister immediately or take time to prepare for government. My view is that he has confidence in his ability to do the job, and so he should use the leverage granted by the by-election win to launch his leadership bid as soon as he is sworn in as an MP on Monday.
