Sky News paused for breaking news on Thursday (17 September), and it’s a bad look for Andy Burnham. Just weeks after the Prime Minister was nicknamed “Keir Starmer 2.0” by his political rivals, leaked Downing Street documents have revealed just how much Burnham is borrowing from Starmer’s agenda.

Asked if the leak reinforces Burnham‘s status as “Starmer 2.0”, Deputy Political Editor, Sam Coates said: “I think some of the things in this document – here it is in a paper copy – do potentially reinforce that.

“Just look at the numbers: of the 55 ideas, 14 of them have, or are about to be, announced by Andy Burnham.”

“Some will claim that despite the rhetoric, there is an element of continuity to this government, something that the Chancellor, John Healey, told me was true, but Burnham’s rhetoric often implies is not,” Coates explained.

Revealing the results of an exclusive poll conducted by Sky News, the TV star said that 46 per cent of the public felt that Burnham is working in a similar direction to Keir Starmer. Meanwhile, 31 per cent agreed with the PM that he has been different.

Referring back to the leaked Downing Street documents, Coates declared: “There’s a lot in here for Andy Burnham’s critics, but also simply the fact that he’s a mid-term Prime Minister inheriting a lot of the same agenda, but also the same problems.”

Following the Sky News report, several politicians have reacted to the leak.

Read More: Sky News halts for breaking Downing Street leak – and it’s bad news for Burnham