Andy Burnham is the new MP for Makerfield and is well on the way to becoming the new prime minister. Much blood may need to flow under the bridge first, but few in Westminster doubt the inevitability of his ultimate elevation to No. 10.

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Which raises key questions about what he will do, and how he will convince the wicked Bond villain markets to go along with it. Key to that will be the identity of his chancellor of the exchequer, who will have to find money for Burnham’s pet projects and prevent the collapse of the pound and an explosion in the cost of borrowing.

Today I’m in receipt of information from a source who has had extensive interactions with multiple members of Burnham’s inner circle, which reminds me of that wonderful moment in Blackadder Goes Forth where the British agent under cover in the hospital, who has gone a bit native behind the lines, is asked whether he has seen any likely German spies and says: ‘Nein!’

‘Nine?!’ comes the reply.

Insiders say a whopping NINE people are in the running to become Burnham’s chancellor, and I can name eight of them. Westminster is assuming that it is a done deal for Ed Miliband, who is desperate to return to the Treasury after his years of advising chancellor Gordon Brown, but that isn’t quite the case. Some claim the man Ed has to beat is someone much less high-profile. Here’s my list of names in the running: 

Champions League Contenders

The Work and Pensions Secretary is the ultimate safe pair of hands. A dry-as-dust Blairite who was caught moaning to Peter Mandelson about having to drum up ever more cash for welfare increases, he would be a credible figure to rein things in. Would not be popular with the left, but would buy Burnham space with the markets.

The Energy Secretary is the overwhelming choice of the soft left and he not only wants the job, he regards it as his due for leading the cabinet charge to get Starmer to name the date of his departure. Labour right-wingers recall Miliband’s desire to make work pay more than welfare under Brown and........

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