This man just overthrew the Prime Minister. But did you know that two weeks before Andy Burnham's by-election victory,…

This man just overthrew the Prime Minister. But did you know that two weeks before Andy Burnham's by-election victory, Labour Together received a £125,000 donation? Their former director, Josh Simons, is in line for a top job at No. 10. The Burnham-Simons coup is underway:🧵

On June 3rd, David Sainsbury gave Labour Together, the think tank that is supposed to “not exist” anymore, £125,000. In March, he gave the central party over half a million pounds. Was he informed of the Burnham coup in advance?

The Labour Friends of Israel lobby group was one of the first to congratulate Andy Burnham after his by-election victory. Within hours, LFI told Burnham: "We look forward to working with you.” David Sainsbury was seated at a “top table” during a key LFI fundraising dinner.

Andy Burnham’s former adviser Jennifer Gerber is a sitting LFI director. His new team will reportedly include Josh Simons, the ex-director of Labour Together who hired spies to go after critical journalists. The ensuing misinformation campaign was egged on by Peter Mandelson.

In October 2023, Josh Simons and Labour Together hosted an event with Epstein-associate and then Labour peer Peter Mandelson. Also present was Jonathan Reynolds, ex-vice-chair of Labour Friends of Israel. In March, Reynolds attended Morgan McSweeney’s “leaving party”.

At the 2024 JLM conference, Josh Simons spoke alongside former Israeli spy Assaf Kaplan at an event on “how to run a good campaign”. What was Simons’ exact role in Andy Burnham’s Makerfield by-election campaign? And has he been promised a Downing Street job in return?

Those journalists had been investigating the dodgy dealings of Peter Mandelson’s protégé, Morgan McSweeney. Despite his public resignation in February, McSweeney’s LinkedIn profile states that he is still a Labour Party campaign director. So, whose campaign is he directing?

Last week, McSweeney attended the summer party of Lachlan Murdoch, owner of the Sun and the Times. The Starmers, the Badenochs, Reform UK’s Robert Jenrick, and ex-Health Secretary Wes Streeting were also in attendance. Behind the scenes, the “coup” is being stage-managed.

The Murdoch empire have a history of grooming Labour Party leaders. As head of the CPS, Keir Starmer accepted more lunches and parties from Murdoch-owned publications than the rest of the British press combined. But now, he has been deemed surplus to requirements.

Andy Burnham’s former boss, Tony Blair, had an “almost incestuous” relationship with Rupert Murdoch. In July 1995, two years before becoming PM, Blair flew to Hayman Island to meet with Murdoch. Burnham has said that not listening to Blair would be akin to “losing the plot”.

Labour’s ex-Health Minister, Wes Streeting previously warned that Keir Starmer’s departure would not lead to a Andy Burnham “coronation”. But now, reportedly after the promise of a top cabinet position, Streeting has joined Team Burnham. Other Labour MPs quickly fell in line.

Shabana Mahmood is set to receive a plum role in Andy Burnham’s cabinet. Shabana and Streeting were amongst the “brave band” of nine MPs lauded for originally building Labour Together. Last October, Shabana received £50,000 from Francesca Perrin, David Sainsbury’s daughter.

Ed Miliband is also eyeing up a promotion under Andy Burnham. At the 2011 Labour Friends of Israel annual lunch, Miliband proclaimed: “I’m grateful to Israel, I respect Israel, I admire Israel.” Like Miliband, Burnham is a long-time supporter of LFI.

Keir Starmer rose to power through dirty politics, buttressed by the dark arts of Morgan McSweeney and courting the support of Labour Together and LFI. Now, the same machine that aggrandised “blank slate” Starmer have thrown him to the kerb. Andy Burnham is the lobby’s new man.

After months of hard work and investigations read by millions, Starmer and McSweeney are gone. Now, their project is rebranding to survive. If you’re able to do so, please consider supporting my work: crowdfunder.co.uk/p/support-my-j… Follow @jodymcintyre_ for more Labour Party exposés.