‘Friedrich Merz's fate is a warning for Andy Burnham’

It took both Andy Burnham and Friedrich Merz three attempts to win the leadership of their parties and ultimately reach the top job. Neither was their party's natural favourite, but time, doggedness and perhaps the exhaustion of the alternatives eventually delivered the prize they had long coveted. Burnham should hope that is where the similarities end.Fifteen months after becoming chancellor, Friedrich Merz is in trouble. His approval rating has collapsed, his coalition is fractious and his cen