Mark Leftly

What James Purnell’s return to No 10, along with the new cabinet, reveals about Burnham’s Labour network

By Mark Leftly / 21st July 2026

James Purnell’s return to frontline politics is more than a nostalgic Blair-Brown era reunion. As Andy Burnham builds his Downing Street operation, public affairs professionals will need to understand the overlapping Labour networks — from the Roses set to the Miliband revivalists — now competing to shape the new administration.

The UK’s unwritten constitution: There are no real rules

By Mark Leftly / 23rd June 2026

The timing and in what circumstances a leader should stay or go are in flux, argues Mark Leftly.

The Strategist: Mark Leftly on the reality of political networks

By Mark Leftly / 13th April 2026

Whilst it may seem easy to cast generalisations over Labour MPs, the reality is that most networks date back decades, writes Mark Leftly