Andy Burnham has ditched his promise to stay in his normal seat for Everton matches.

The ardent Toffees fan insisted last month that he would 'find a way' of staying in the stands to be 'true to his instincts' and keep in touch with ordinary people.

But the PM was in the directors' box for the 2-0 victory against Crystal Palace in the opening game of the season yesterday.

His decision emulates that of Keir Starmer, who came under fire for accepting a privileged seat at Arsenal's home matches. 

Mr Burnham was alongside wife Marie-France van Heel, daughter Rosie and former player Peter Reid at the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

It is understood that the premier baulked at the prospect of evicting other fans from around his normal seat to make space for his close protection officers.

Instead he took up the club's offer of a place in the more comfortable seats in the directors' box close to the halfway line.

Mr Burnham is expected to continue sitting either there or in the directors' lounge for the remainder of the season.

He will need to declare the value of the ticket in the directors' box as a donation on the Parliamentary register. 

Last month the incoming PM said he had 'already got a commitment' that he could sit in the stands as normal at the opening match.

'It's where I've gone wrong, sometimes in my political career,' he told The Times. 

'It's when I've not been true to my instincts. I hate saying it like this, but my instincts are pretty good. 

'And I said it on Friday: I do listen to people. That's where I've always picked up my straws in the wind. And that's my style. 

'I've got to find a way of keeping that: sitting in my own seat. It's actually the best thing I could do. Every game there would be a mega focus group on me.'