# What does Burnham’s appointment of James Purnell mean?

An episode of [Politics At Sam and Anne's](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1709628885), 24 Jun 2026, 23 min.

Audio: https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/fc5a8f6c-987c-49a6-923d-fe1fe209c43e.mp3?aw_0_1st.showid=e0c28668-b961-43cf-8d6c-6ba62ef8a7a3&aw_0_1st.episodeid=fc5a8f6c-987c-49a6-923d-fe1fe209c43e

Andy Burnham appears to have taken another major step towards power, bringing in a big name from the Blair era – James Purnell – as his chief of staff. What does it say about the Burnham operation and the government he is trying to build? Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy unpack a decades-long relationship, and discuss why it’s being welcomed by Labour MPs, business and the city. Plus, as Starmer ally Darren Jones rules himself out of a leadership challenge, is the path now clear for a Burnham coronation? And Anne has been speaking to Reform UK’s Robert Jenrick. How do they deal with a new Labour leader, and do they have a clear narrative on migration?

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