Andy Burnham's Second Coming

I remember the time when the resignation of a senior government minister would corner political news and comment for days. But writing on the evening after Andy Burnham's announced his bid to return to the Commons, who's talking about Wes Streeting stepping down any more? Well, I am. His was a curious letter, starting off with a out-of-place "the results are in" joshing, and then rolling off recent NHS achievements, including the welcome news that waiting lists conitnue to fall. He went on to the substantive stuff; how he was frustrated by the government making the wrong calls and stuck in low gear deliverism before saying he had lost confidence in Keir Starmer and was off. But he did not then reach for the starting pistol, or the 81 MPs needed to launch a leadership bid. A read of his own chances, or knowing what was coming later? Then tonight, Josh Simons, hitherto famous for overseeing dodgy doings while he was director of Labour Together, announced he was vacating his Makerfield…