Prime Minister Andy Burnham has appointed Bridget Phillipson as Labour Party chair, a move that pairs two people who only recently stopped trying to take each other's jobs.

A Labour spokesperson confirmed that Phillipson, who also serves as minister for women and equalities, will work closely with deputy Labour leader Lucy Powell to modernise the party ahead of the next general election. The two went head to head for the deputy leader position last year after Angela Rayner's resignation, with Powell winning 54% of the membership vote. Phillipson previously served as education secretary under Sir Keir Starmer, but that role was handed to Powell when Burnham formed his cabinet last week.

Announcing the appointment, Burnham said Phillipson would help the party prepare for a new digital campaigning environment. "She will play a vital role in ensuring the Labour Party is match fit for the next election," he said, presumably hoping voters don't recall the phrase "match fit" was last used by a PE teacher who couldn't remember your name.

Phillipson replaces Anna Turley, who was made a Home Office minister last week. The leadership team, which also includes chief whip Anneliese Midgley, is expected to focus on culture change and building the infrastructure and policy platform needed by 2029 - the latest possible date for an election, giving them plenty of time to figure out what "match fit" actually means.

Posting on X, Phillipson said she was honoured to take on the role. "I joined our party as a teenager and saw first hand the difference a Labour government makes," she wrote. "I'll work with members to build the election-winning machine that sees off Reform [UK] for good and secures a second Labour term."

Welcoming her, Powell said: "Working together, we will ensure the party continues to lead the way in campaigning, with the strongest ground operation in British politics as we prepare for the next general election." Which is a diplomatic way of saying, "Remember when we were rivals? Let's not do that again."