Andy Burnham will become prime minister on Monday with his cabinet still under wraps, as he insisted it would be “premature” to announce his top team before taking office. Asked why he had not revealed who will serve in his government, the new Labour leader said: “It would be somewhat premature and would, I think, cause complete chaos if you start half a reshuffle before you’re in the position.”
Burnham, who returned to Parliament a month ago in a by-election, cemented his status as the sole leadership candidate after being backed by 379 Labour MPs and all 11 trade unions affiliated to the party. He will take over from Sir Keir Starmer following a reception with King Charles III.
“Andy Burnham will become PM on Monday with his cabinet still unannounced, saying it would be 'premature' to reveal picks.”
The former mayor of Greater Manchester has promised the biggest change in British politics for 40 years. In his first speech as Labour leader at the TUC headquarters in central London, he rejected the “neoliberal” policies of the past four decades and vowed to reindustrialise the country through devolution. “We won’t beat Britain’s new right if we are consumed by infighting and pulling in different directions,” he said, urging a culture of “one Labour team”.
Allies of Mr Burnham said he would seek early policy wins to make people’s lives easier, while speculation swirls about his cabinet picks. Ed Miliband and Shabana Mahmood are thought to be in the running to replace Rachel Reeves as chancellor, and reports suggest David Miliband is being lined up for a return to frontline politics as foreign secretary. The veteran New Labour figure, who has spent more than a decade running a refugee charity in the United States, recently used a lecture to back Burnham’s devolution agenda, calling it “long overdue”.
Not everyone is welcoming the transition. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said Burnham “comes in with absolutely no mandate of any kind at all” and called for “an immediate general election so the country can decide the future”. But Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey said he welcomed Burnham’s call for a more collaborative politics, adding “my door is open”, and particularly wants changes to the water industry, support for the NHS and social care.
Burnham said his appointments would reflect “all parts of our party” and “all communities”, and that he is “finalising those decisions” and will announce them on Monday. Depute leader Lucy Powell said Burnham has “got big ideas”. The question now is whether those ideas can survive the inevitable tug-of-war between Labour’s factions – and how long the new prime minister can keep the details of his top team hidden.