Andy Burnham unable to take a seat in ordinary seat at Everton after changing into Prime Minister
Mr Burnham – a decades-long season ticket holder – had previously said he hoped to be allowed to sit in his own seat in the South Stand, but it is understood this would have posed a security issue
The PM cheers on the Blues with club legend Peter Reid(Image: Getty Images)
Everton fan Andy Burnham yesterday sat in the directors box for his first match since becoming PM – amid security fears if he sat in his usual spot.
The Labour leader was cheered as he entered the Hill Dickinson Stadium with club legend Peter Reid, who campaigned for him during the Makerfield byelection. Social media footage showed him posing for selfies and shaking hands with fans before kick-off.
Mr Burnham – a decades-long season ticket holder – had previously told how he hoped to be allowed to sit in his own seat in the South Stand, saying at the time: “It’s actually the best thing I could do. Every game there would be a mega focus group on me.”
The PM watches on as Everton got their season off to a flying start(Image: Craig Galloway/ProSports/Shutterstock)
But it is feared that would have meant a number of fans being displaced to accommodate close protection officers, in line with security protocols, something Mr Burnham felt was unreasonable.
Security expert Professor Anthony Glees told the Daily Star Sunday had Mr Burnham sat in his usual seat “everyone else around him, row upon row, will be a plain clothed, heavily armed close protection officer.”
He added: “There is no way in which any Prime Minister, and that includes Burnham, can behave like he was not our Prime Minister. In fact, he will never again be just a normal Everton fan, and for long after he’s left office.
The PM and Peter Reid before the game(Image: Getty Images)
“What’s more, no Prime Minister is responsible in any way for their own security. They do what they are told, end of story. It’s not up to him.”
Instead, he watched on from the more comfortable seats in the directors’ box close to the halfway line as his beloved blues got their season off to a flyer with a comprehensive 2-0 victory for the rest of the season.
The ‘King of the North’, appeared on a YouTube channel over the summer discussing his love of the club and choosing his favourite retro shirts, was sat with his wife Marie-France van Heel during the game.
The PM had plenty to cheer as Everton coasted to a comfortable victory over Crystal Palace(Image: Daniel Weir/Sports Press Photo/Shutterstock)
Mr Glees added: “Of course Burnham is right not to want to be seen to be kept away from the public. I get that. But the truth is he isn’t just an ordinary football fan any longer and he won’t ever be one again. He’s the prime minister of 69m Brits.]
“If he were sitting where a malign actor knew he was going to be, our PM would make himself a sitting duck target. Having said that, and knowing the doughty nature of Everton fans, any incursion upon Burnham’s security is likely to leave them with bloody noses.
“Everton know how to protect their own and they’ll probably make more of a mess of any one foolish enough to have a go at Burnham than the protection officers would.”
