Andy Burnham has shown that he can win. But can he govern Britain? | Gaby Hinsliff

Having literally campaigned in poetry, the new Makerfield MP needs a summer of knuckling down to the small print By the end, it had become less a byelection, more a mythical quest. Whoever could draw the sword from Makerfield’s stone – or more prosaically, beat Reform in a seat where it practically swept the board in last month’s local elections – would claim the divine right to rule the Labour party. And lo, on Friday morning, Andy Burnham became the chosen one. He carries the magic shield of not being from Westminster – though that won’t last, obviously – plus the easy warmth with people tha

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