SOON after our fast rising MP Andy Burnham received his first junior government post I told him he would be prime minister one day.

He laughed my statement off.

I might be right.

This week the hardest working MP I have met has thrown his cap in to the ring.

The ex-health secretary has joined the race to become the next Labour leader.

It should be a tough battle, but high profile Andy will make a good go of it.

He launched his Reconnecting Labour campaign at Leigh Sports Village yesterday with special guest Brookside, Hollyoaks and Grange Hill creator, tv mogul and pal Phil Redmond as a guest.

Now he plans to upload Leigh voters’ ideas offered for the future of Labour on the website where others can vote for their choice.

What’s the betting that immigration will be the most popular topic to tackle?

Andy, who has the support of ex-Home secretary David Blunkett, might receive some knocks along the road to the top, but I am sure at just 40 years old he will make it one day. He certainly has the drive and ambition.

I have often said I don’t know how he finds time to fit in all his appointments but he does and he obviously has a loving and patient family backing him all the way.

Not everyone agrees, but for me he has worked harder for this town in his short reign than the last two MPs did in four decades.

I hope everyone gets right behind him in his bid to reach his next goal. It can only be good for the constituency.