Lucy Powell appears to endorse Ed Miliband as Andy Burnham’s chancellor

Ed Miliband would make a “good” chancellor to Andy Burnham , Labour’s deputy leader, Lucy Powell, has said, ahead of the likely next prime minister’s first major speech on the economy since he returned to Westminster. Powell, who served as Miliband’s chief of staff in opposition and is close to the former party leader, appeared to endorse him to run the Treasury – although some in Burnham’s camp acknowledge such a move could be politically risky. But with ministers jostling for Burnham’s ear , Powell added that speculation around cabinet posts in a future government was “unedifying” and the focus should be on creating and securing jobs across the country instead. Asked whether she thought Miliband would be good at running the Treasury, she told the BBC: “Yes I do actually, but actually I think this is a slightly distracting conversation, because I think we’ve all got a really important job to do.” Lucy Powell said the cost of living should be her party’s focus and not ‘tittle-tattle’ about Cabinet positions. Photograph: Christopher Furlong/Getty Images Miliband remains the frontrunner for the role of chancellor, with a view in Burnham’s team that he has what it takes to smash through Treasury orthodoxy to pursue a more radical economy. But they also acknowledge that Burnham would expend some political capital by appointing him. …