Andy Burnham’s GQ interview comes back to haunt him

Although much has been made of Andy Burnham’s admission in an interview with GQ that he owns an Armani suit, perhaps the most embarrassing revelation lies further down. When asked for the Gentlemen’s Quarterley’s September issue who he would like to lead the Labour party if he doesn’t win the leadership election, Burnham plays it safe and chooses a politician who is not even running for the coveted position:

‘Alan Johnson is somebody that I think has that authentic Labour voice that the public can relate to, and somebody who embodies aspiration in a good way.’

Pity then that Johnson came out in support of his rival Yvette Cooper just two days before its publication, when the magazine had already been sent to the printers. In a glowing endorsement of Cooper, the former Home Secretary said that she was the only candidate who could lead Labour to success:

‘In my view only Yvette Cooper can unite the party to win again.