Keep it in the New Labour family. The news that Andy Burnham has selected James Purnell, CEO of Flint Global, to be his new chief of staff if he becomes prime minister later in July was confirmed when Flint Global confirmed Purnell’s resignation as chief executive. The move is just the latest in a series of Westminster merry-go-round job moves from the Public Affairs sector back into Downing Street.

It is understood that ‘terms’ are still being negotiated but if he takes up the role as chief of staff No 10 it will be yet another ‘return to government’ for a former high-profile minister turned public affairs leader. Nobody could say he is not well qualified to steer Burnham through the dark arts of Downing Street government. Purnell’s last role in government was as work and pensions secretary, resigning back in 2009 when Gordon Brown was leader.

A Flint spokesperson told PRWeek: “James has resigned from Flint. He has recused himself from all client activity and has no ongoing financial interest in the company of any kind. James’ decision to join [Andy] Burnham’s team is entirely his own, and one we fully respect.”

The news that yet another seasoned lobbyist with a glittering global client list and contact book would be retuning to government was met with some reservations by some in the Labour Party, following the fact that part of Starmer’s downfall as PM stems from his appointment of Lord Mandelson, co-founder of closed-down lobby firm Global Counsel, as the UK’s Washington ambassador.

As CEO of Flint, Purnell’s clients included such firms as BP, Jaguar Land Rover, Google, Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, Airbnb and Uber. The Guardian have been quick to say that Burnham is facing “unease within Labour over the lobbying links of James Purnell”, described as “a longstanding friend and former cabinet minister.”

The Times have also flagged up how Flint Global advised Huawei while it was fighting a proposed UK ban. “Transparency campaigners fear conflicts of interest in government” wrote the paper. According to its report, Flint was retained by Huawei to provide “policy advice” as the Chinese tech giant argued against a ban on its products being used in UK telecommunications after proposed US sanctions.

This attempt failed, said the paper, and in 2022 the UK government banned Huawei from UK public networks on the grounds that the security of the company’s products could no longer be managed due to the impact of US sanctions on its supply chain. Flint’s contract with Huawei reportedly ended in 2022, when the government policy on Huawei changed, and the nature of the contract was for “technical telecoms advice.”

We have been here before. Considering Purnell’s old links with Lord Mandelson, see might say this is a risky appointment or strategy. Others say Burnham and Purnell are simply close colleagues and friends who both served in the Blair and Brown Labour governments. Purnell was Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport and Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. Purnell’s previous roles include being chair of the Institute for Public Policy Research, special advisor at Boston Consulting Group, director of radio and education at the BBC, and president and vice-chancellor of University of the Arts London.

Purnell was the former MP for Stalybridge and Hyde and joined in 2024. Flint Global have close links with Labour special advisers and government ministers and have taken on several key members of Global Counsel after the firm imploded earlier this year. Flint is registered with the UK Office of the Registrar of Consultant Lobbyists.

According to PRWeek, who have looked at the most recent full-year accounts of Flint’s parent company, Project Spark Topco Limited, the group generated underlying earnings (EBITDA) of £9.7m in 2024 on turnover of £34.3m, and employed 138 people at the year-end. Alongside its London HQ, Flint currently has offices in Brussels, Paris, Berlin, Hong Kong, Singapore and Australia.

Like Burnham, Purnell cut his political teeth as a young minister under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown. They worked together as rookie MPs, even sharing an office together and both hail from the North-West. Both have served as culture secretary. Purnell later became the BBC’s director of strategy before becoming taking up the top job at lobbying firm Flint Global in 2024.

It’s not the first time that Purnell has been offered the role of chief of staff. After the 2010 Labour election defeat, Purnell was offered the role of chief of staff to Ed Miliband as leader of the opposition. This time, it is expected that Purnell will accept the role, being the first major appointment of the new Burnham government.