Why Andy Burnham can no longer use his Everton season ticket seat at Hill Dickinson Stadium

Prime Minister Andy Burnham has had to give up his usual Everton season ticket seat at Hill Dickinson Stadium after his new position brought additional security requirements.

The lifelong Everton supporter will instead watch matches from the directors' box for the remainder of the season.

New Prime Minister forced to relocate from usual Hill Dickinson spot

Burnham attended the Toffees' Premier League meeting with Crystal Palace at Hill Dickinson Stadium but was unable to sit in his usual South Stand seat.

The Everton season-ticket holder had previously indicated that he wanted to continue using his normal seat despite becoming Prime Minister, but his new security arrangements made that impractical.

Had Burnham sat in his usual position, several supporters would have needed to be displaced to accommodate his close protection officers in line with the relevant security protocols.

The Press Association understands Burnham felt that would be unreasonable and instead accepted Everton's offer of a seat in the directors' box alongside his wife Marie-France van Heel and daughter Rosie.

Burnham was also seated alongside former Everton midfielder Peter Reid, who was among those to visit Downing Street when Burnham became Prime Minister last month.

The new arrangement is expected to continue for the rest of the season, with Burnham likely to watch Everton matches either from the directors' box or directors' lounge close to the halfway line.

FGG says: A small price for keeping his fellow Everton fans in their seats

It's an unusual consequence of becoming Prime Minister, but Burnham appears to have made the sensible call by moving rather than forcing other Everton supporters out of their seats.

For a lifelong fan who presumably would much rather be back among the regular match-going support, the directors' box is probably a small sacrifice for avoiding disruption to fellow supporters.