Tomorrow marks one week since the Makerfield by-election.

If nothing else, the subsequent events have highlighted two things.

The first is that a week is a long time in politics, and the second is that Reform candidate Robert Kenyon has learnt nothing from his chastening experience.

Kenyon, who describes himself as ‘The Plucky Plumber’ on Facebook, took to social media to point out that, following the by-election, he had spent five days in Makerfield while Andy Burnham had spent none.

Not for the first time, the public’s response to his social media activity was withering.

Benjamin Morris replied: “I’m not sure if you know this, but Parliament is in London.”

While Kenyon remains a bit-part player in UK politics, Burnham now stands on the brink of being named the UK’s seventh Prime Minister in just 10 years.

In the days since Alison McKenzie-Folan, acting returning officer and Wigan Council chief executive, announced the result of the Makerfield by-election on Friday morning, Burnham’s feet have barely touched the ground.

On Monday, he said an emotional goodbye to staff at the Greater Manchester Combined Authority in the Tootal Building, signalling the end of his nine-year stint as Greater Manchester Mayor.

He then caught an Avanti West Coast train to London to be sworn in at Parliament as Makerfield’s new MP, before taking a smiling selfie with his fellow Labour MPs inside Westminster.

Tellingly, Chancellor Rachel Reeves was one of those to appear in the selfie, having been conspicuous by her absence from Keir Starmer’s resignation speech outside 10 Downing Street earlier in the day.

On Tuesday, The Times reported that Burnham and Starmer had met at a secret location.

Burnham is currently the only candidate in the Labour leadership race, which means he could become Prime Minister as early as July 17.

His meteoric rise is such that he could go from confirming his candidacy in the Makerfield by-election to becoming Prime Minister in less than two months.

At the top of Burnham’s priority list is the formation of his Cabinet, starting with his choice of Chancellor.

Rachel Reeves is widely expected to be demoted to a more junior Cabinet role, with her replacement likely to come from Ed Miliband, Shabana Mahmood and Wes Streeting.

Mahmood is believed to favour remaining as Home Secretary, and Burnham is set to reward the loyalists who oversaw his landslide victory in Makerfield with roles in his Cabinet.

Burnham’s A team

At the top of the list is Sheffield Heeley MP Louise Haigh, who managed Andy Burnham’s campaign. After Friday’s result, she posted a photo of herself with Burnham on Instagram alongside the message: ‘Hope Won In Makerfield’.

Another rising star is Knowsley MP and former trade union official Anneliese Midgley, who worked as the political lead on Burnham’s campaign.

My co-host on the Northern Spin podcast, Frank McKenna, identified Peckham MP and Burnham ally Miatta Fahnbulleh as having a particularly bright future.

Other people in Burnham’s inner circle tipped for new roles are GM deputy mayor Kate Green, Josh Simons, who vacated his Makerfield seat to allow Burnham to stand, and Lucy Powell, MP for Manchester Central since 2012.

Kevin Lee, Burnham’s closest adviser, is almost certain to secure a senior role in the new-look 10 Downing Street.

  • Chris Maguire co-hosts the Northern Spin podcast alongside Frank McKenna. You can listen to the latest episode here