Key Facts

• Andy Burnham's appointment as prime minister is considered a certainty, with Labour MPs focusing on who will be appointed to his government and what policies he will pursue.
• Rachel Reeves, the current chancellor, will not be appointed as chancellor in Burnham's government, and is likely to be offered a more junior cabinet position, a rare move for a former chancellor.
• Ed Miliband, the energy secretary, is considered the frontrunner to become chancellor, with supporters arguing he has the experience and skills to drive the government's economic agenda, but some Labour MPs express concerns about his policy stance and potential to divide the party.
• James Purnell, a former culture secretary and work and pensions secretary, will become Burnham's chief of staff, a move seen as a personal appointment rather than an ideological one, given Purnell's background as a Blairite and his long-standing relationship with Burnham.
• Other potential candidates for chancellor include Wes Streeting, Yvette Cooper, and John Healey, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, and who would bring different policy perspectives and priorities to the role.