Back on the pitch: how Burnham’s chief of staff pick reunites late-90s Labour football team
Summary
Andy Burnham has chosen James Purnell as his chief of staff if he becomes prime minister. Both Burnham and Purnell were part of a Labour government football team called Demon Eyes, formed in the late 1990s by New Labour advisers.Key Facts
- Andy Burnham’s choice of James Purnell brings together two old friends and Labour ministers.
- The Demon Eyes football team included prominent Labour figures like Burnham, Purnell, Ed Balls, and David Miliband.
- The team was formed around 1998 during the early years of Tony Blair’s government.
- Demon Eyes was known for being very competitive and focused on winning.
- The team’s name came from a Conservative Party poster showing Tony Blair with red “demonic” eyes.
- Many team members later left politics for other careers.
- The team played in the Labour stronghold area of north London.
- Football was a common interest that connected Labour politicians, with conversations often about politics.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.