𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

In politics, timing is everything. Grab your chance, reap the rewards. Hesitate, and you’re dead.

Take David Miliband, for example. Labour’s once-upon-a-time chosen one had more than one opportunity to oust Gordon Brown in 2008 before bottling out.

His chance finally came a couple of years later when Labour were turfed out of office. But he famously lost out to his brother, Ed, in the race to replace Brown.

The older Miliband hasn’t been seen in politics since.

Similar can be said of James Purnell, a fellow Cabinet member in Brown’s government, and also tipped as a future Labour leader.

But he quit in a fit of fury in an attempt to oust the-then Prime Minister in 2009, before stepping down as an MP less than a year later.

What do these nearly men have in common?

Back in the noughties they were among Labour’s rising stars, all sitting round the Cabinet table, ready to take over from Brown’s clunking fist.

Burnham too, has had his chances to lead the party. He has failed twice.

Once in 2010, dropping out in the first round.

Five years later he lost again, this time to Jeremy Corbyn.

Although Burnham went on to be a successful mayor in Greater Manchester, he is a serial loser on the big stage.

But the “King of the North” may be about to make one last bid for a job he clearly covets.

There are two questions that everyone in Westminster has been asking since former Labour minister Andrew Gwynne announced he was quitting as an MP this week.

“Will Andy stand?” and “Will Keir let him?”

A by-election in Gwynne’s Gorton and Denton constituency has given the former Health Secretary a possible route back to Parliament.

There are, however, some obstacles in the way.

Will Labour’s executive committee, stuffed with Keir Starmer supporters, allow him to run.

Then there’s the question of whether he will win the seat.

Labour holds a majority of 13,000 but support has plunged nationally and Reform UK are surging.

And then there’s the question of if he challenges Sir Keir for the leadership, will he have enough backing from Labour MPs.

His past record does not bode well.

Burnham has not endeared himself to the current crop either.

Last year, ahead of Labour’s conference, he faced a backlash from dozens of Labour MPs over suggestions he could mount a coup.

That animosity has not gone away.

The problem with Burnham, Labour sources say, “is that it’s always about Andy Burnham”.

Whatever happens, it is all likely to come to a head sooner rather than later.

Labour wants the by-election to be held quickly, with a candidate possibly in place by next week.