ANDY BURNHAM’S greatest problem as Labour leadership contender is that he peaked early, being touted last year as Ed Miliband’s likely successor.

His bravura performance at Labour Party conference made him the darling of the party, leading Unite general secretary Len McCluskey to comment: “The person who impresses me most at the moment is Andy Burnham.”

This was misread by many in the media to indicate that Unite had anointed Burnham as its candidate in waiting.