ANDY BURNHAM looks likely to be our new Prime Minister in the near future, after his win in last week’s Makerfield byelection was followed by the resignation of Keir Starmer.

And if he does, he will become the first person who previously served as the President of the RFL who later becomes the Prime Minister.

Burnham became the RFL President in July 2018 and he occupied that position for twelve months until he was succeeded by former Arsenal footballer Tony Adams in July 2019.

On the same day that he became the RFL President, Ralph Rimmer became the chief executive of the RFL after occupying the position on an interim basis after the departure of Nigel Wood.

And it was Ralph who changed the constitution of the RFL to allow the appointment of Andy Burnham and his successors.

Prior to 2018 the Presidency of the RFL had always gone to the longest serving member of the RFL Council.

That tended to produce Presidents of varying quality but the vast majority of them were not known outside the world of Rugby League.

Ralph changed the rules so that the longest serving member would become the vice-president, while the Presidency would go to someone with a public profile.

Since Tony Adams took on the role we have had Clare Balding, Sir Lindsay Hoyle and now the Australian comedian, TV star and South Sydney fan Adam Hills.

It was a change for the better in my opinion.

I understand that Ralph Rimmer still has a strong friendship with Andy Burnham, so I hope he will be able to persuade the next Prime Minister to make a reference to his RFL Presidency when he gives one of his speeches in the House of Commons, especially in the presence of another former President in Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle.

Which other sport can boast two former Presidents in two key constitutional roles in the British government?