Burnham planning for No 10 for at least a year, key ally says

Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Louise Haigh helped campaign in Makerfield and introduced Andy Burnham at his victory speech By James Gregory Political reporter Published 43 minutes ago Andy Burnham has been planning what he would do as prime minister for at least a year, a key ally has said. Louise Haigh, who briefly served as transport secretary in Sir Keir Starmer's government, has been central to the new MP for Makerfield's operation in recent weeks. "He has been thinking about this and certainly planning for this, for this moment, for at least the last year," she told the BBC's Political Thinking with Nick Robinson. She added that his route to No 10 only became clear after Labour's disastrous set of election results in May, saying it was obvious "it couldn't continue the way it was continuing." Burnham is so far the sole candidate to have announced their intention to stand to replace Sir Keir as Labour leader. Nominations from Labour MPs have now opened and should the former Greater Manchester mayor become PM later this month, Haigh is likely to play a central role in his government. The MP for Sheffield Heeley is a leading figure on the "soft left" of the Labour Party and has been involved, with Burnham and a handful of other senior figures, in access talks with the civil service, aimed at ensuring a smooth transition of power. She told the BBC the former Greater Manchester mayor has been thinking about what he would do as prime minister for years, noting that he had twice before run to become Labour leader in 2010 and 2015. And she denied that he was "unprepared or inexperienced" because of his nine years away from Westminster while Greater Manchester mayor. "He has spent that time thinking very deeply about how the country is run, what holds regions like Greater Manchester, and therefore most regions and the devolved nations of this country, back. "He has got very, very clear ideas and a plan to put that right." She also defended the lack of detail on who might be in Burnham's cabinet, saying he was not "beholden" to anyone - with no need for horse-trading or deals. "He can set out the agenda... and then build out the people from that. That's the right way to do it, but it's so so rare that you get given the opportunity to do it that way." We've got a plan: Louise Haigh on her journey back to power Political Thinking with Nick Robinson Available now Listen on Sounds Burnham on course for No 10 as Labour nominations open Published 3 hours ago What we know about Andy Burnham's policies Published 4 hours ago Burnham plans to work some days in Manchester as PM Published 30 June One of the big headaches facing a prospective Burnham government is the welfare budget. A major review of Personal Independence Payments (Pip) in England and Wales published on Thursday found the disability benefit to be "not fit for purpose" and in need of fundamental change. Opposition parties, most notably the Conservatives, have called for the welfare bud