Ruthless plotter or dad dancer? Insiders reveal the real Andy Burnham

A significant story is unfolding on the international scene. Ruthless plotter or dad dancer? Insiders reveal the real Andy BurnhamPublished28 minutes agoByLaura Kuenssberg Sunday with Laura KuenssbergWho is Andy Burnham? There are plenty of labels to pick from.

King of the north, the well-liked mayor of Greater Manchester. Ruthless plotter – the man who led a shadow revolt to oust the prime minister. Everton fan and season ticket holder, who wants to try and sit in the stands even when he is running the country.

The Details

Experienced former cabinet minister. Flip-flopper – a charge chucked at him by political critics. Deeply proud family man and centrist dad, unafraid to display his moves to True Faith by New Order, the track he picked to play at an event to celebrate taking over the Labour Party.

The 56-year-old is going to become the 59th prime minister on Monday. To understand who he is, I've spoken to more than 20 people who have worked with him over the last few decades – old friends and rivals, as well as current and former cabinet ministers. Image source, ReutersBurnham is unusual in politics because even colleagues who are furious that he ousted Sir Keir Starmer say he is an affable and decent person.

But does he have the experience and skills to pick Labour's morale up off the floor, and tackle the deep problems the country has? One old friend wonders: "He is a lovely bloke, but I just don't know if he is up to it – that is the honest question. "Being Mr Nice Guy isn't enough to be an effective prime minister in a confusing and brutal political era.

What Experts Say

But you can be ruthless with a smile, and Andy Burnham is willing to follow advice from one of the most effective leaders of recent decades – not one of the prime ministers, but Sir Alex Ferguson. I'm told the former Manchester United boss bumped into Burnham and wanted to chat politics. He wanted to know why there had been so much bad blood and briefing between Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, saying if he'd been Blair, he would have "got him in a room, and said, you're either with me, or you can sod off".

The actual phrasing he used was far ruder than that – but you get the drift. A close ally of Burnham told me: "We might need the Ferguson hairdryer – this is our moment and we might have to tell people, if you're not with me, well bye, and thanks for your time. "Image source, PAAnother colleague says Burnham is absolutely determined to set the direction of the new government, and "will be all over every one and everything and there will only be room for his agenda".

What looks like a decision to allow new drilling for oil and gas in the North Sea seems to be evidence of that, as it goes totally against the desire of current Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, one of the cabinet ministers who helped Burnham by telling Sir Keir that time was up.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.