Streeting faction claims Burnham will give No 10 job to Simons

Wes Streeting‘s supporters – most likely his campaign team – are briefing the media that Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham will give a “senior job in No 10” to Josh Simons.

Simons is the now-ex MP who stepped down to trigger the Makerfield by-election in which Burnham plans to stand. He is then expected to challenge Keir Starmer – and Streeting, if he goes ahead with his bid – for the Labour leadership and prime ministership.

Streeting’s motives for this briefing are obvious: he would lose to Burnham by a country mile. So claiming that Burnham will put Simons back into a position of influence is an obvious attack point. Simons was director of ‘Labour Together’ – now rebranded as “Think Labour”, but without significant change – when it spied on journalists. The journalists were investigating its sabotage of Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour and its lie-campaign to install Keir Starmer to replace him.

The reports quote anonymous ‘Labour sources’, but other well-connected sources told Skwawkbox the briefing comes from Streeting’s cadre. Streeting’s other manoeuvres to try to nobble Burnham’s chances in Reform-run Makerfield include announcing that Streeting wants to rejoin the EU. This forced Burnham to into a no-win choice. Stick to his own earlier comments about rejoining, or u-turn and alienate Labour members he would then be asking to vote for his leadership.

Quid pro quo

The fact that the ‘No 10 job’ claims are campaign smears does not, however, remove concerns about Burnham’s indebtedness to the very saboteur outfit that brought down Corbyn and installed Starmer. A faction that destroyed Starmer by being found out in connection to Epstein-fan Peter Mandelson’s ambassadorial appointment and is desperately trying to retain control when Starmer is gone.

But the inside word is that the ‘quid pro quo’ currently on offer is Burnham then smoothing the way for a straight swap. Burnham would be Makerfield MP (if he wins). Former incumbent Simons would then be given a straight run at becoming Labour’s candidate in the mayoral election to replace Burnham.

Of course, none of these things are going to happen if Burnham fails to win a seat in which Reform are strong favourites. But it’s beyond reasonable doubt that the contingencies and ‘Plan B’s are being discussed – and that Streeting needs to nobble them to preserve his own chances.

Featured image via Getty Images/Gary Oakley