Andy Burnham has been admonished for his ‘blokeish’ obsession with pubs and football, but the reality is that his Government is packed with powerful women competing for his ear and influencing his policies.
The effect, according to one long-standing Burnham ally, has been to create ‘a bit of a Mean Girls atmosphere’ – a reference to the celebrated 2004 Hollywood film about cut-throat schoolgirl cliques.
Playing Regina George – the queen bee of North Shore High in the movie – is Louise Haigh, who as First Secretary of State is the Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) in all but name.
Trailing in her wake
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