Josh Simons resigned from seat in May to give former Greater Manchester mayor path to return to Westminster
Daily Telegraph 05/07/26
Josh Simons is expected to lead Downing Street’s head of policy unit under Andy Burnham, Labour allies have said.
The former Makerfield MP resigned from his seat in May to give the former Greater Manchester mayor a path to return to Westminster and challenge Sir Keir Starmer for the leadership.
In his resignation letter, Mr Simons claimed he wanted to put his constituents first, but the 32-year-old has faced questions over whether he struck a deal with Mr Burnham to get a key role in the incoming administration.
On Saturday night it was suggested that Mr Simons, who previously ran the centre-Left think tank Labour Together – founded by Morgan McSweeney and credited with Sir Keir’s leadership victory – was in line to head Downing Street’s policy unit.
One Labour MP and ally of Mr Simons, told The Telegraph: “He would certainly be qualified for the Downing Street head of policy role. His background is very sort of pointy-headed policy geek. I have heard he has really hit it off with Andy. It’s meant to be a real meeting of minds.
The MP added: “It’s not just the gratitude because he did such a dramatic thing by giving up his seat, but they actually get on really well with each other.
“And supporters of Starmer, who might resent what he did, may put that to one side because they would prefer that the guy who used to run Labour Together and is very clearly a moderate was in charge of policy rather than someone from the Left.”
Another insider said: “He’s a policy wonk at heart, so he would relish the role. I am not adverse to him getting it, but he is a bit of a Marmite character and can rub people the wrong way.”
Mr Simons, who helped run Mr Burnham’s successful Makerfield by-election campaign, has been part of the incoming prime minister’s inner circle since May and has been by his side helping him prepare for government.
He came to prominence in February after he was forced to resign as a Cabinet Office minister over his decision to order a report into the background of several journalists who had written critical stories about his think tank.
The report, by the PR firm APCO was denounced as a smear campaign, which falsely linked the reporters to pro-Russian propaganda. Although Mr Simons was cleared of breaching the ministerial code, he stepped down.
A Labour source said: “It has been a strong rumour from the start of the by-election that he will run Burnham’s policy, so many assume he will.
“But I think the whole thing has been a farce, him resigning makes us look silly to the public, so I am not especially keen to see him in the role. How does he represent change when he was the director of Labour Together, the group we thought was helping us prepare for government?”
A spokesman for Mr Burnham declined to comment on whether Mr Simons would run No 10’s policy.
Confirmation of incoming political appointments are not expected to take place until Mr Burnham is crowned prime minister later this month.
Mr Simons has been contacted for comment.
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