Sir Keir Starmer met Andy Burnham for talks on Tuesday, the first time the pair have sat down since Burnham won last week’s Makerfield by-election, as the outgoing prime minister seeks an “orderly” transition of power. The hour-long meeting, first reported in the Times, comes as Starmer authorised “access talks” with civil servants for prospective Labour leadership candidates to prepare them for government.
Burnham is the only candidate to have emerged so far and could become prime minister as early as 17 July under the party’s timetable. If he does, he is expected to offer the current chancellor, Rachel Reeves, a junior or mid-level cabinet position, according to an ally quoted by the BBC. “Andy really respects Rachel and I’m confident he’ll want her in his top team,” the ally said, though a Burnham spokesperson said no decisions had been made. Reeves’ team has been contacted for comment. Names mooted to replace her as chancellor include Ed Miliband, Wes Streeting, John Healey and Yvette Cooper.
“Starmer meets Burnham for orderly transition; Robbins in talks for security role as Burnham builds team.”
Burnham is also expected to appoint former Labour cabinet minister James Purnell as his Downing Street chief of staff, according to two close allies. Purnell served under Gordon Brown as culture secretary and work and pensions secretary before leaving politics in 2010, then worked as a senior BBC executive and more recently as CEO of lobbying firm Flint Global.
In a further sign that Burnham is building a team of Whitehall insiders, Sir Olly Robbins – the former top civil servant sacked by Starmer earlier this year amid the Peter Mandelson vetting row – is in talks about a possible security-related role if Burnham becomes PM, The Independent has reported. Robbins, who served as deputy national security adviser and chief Brexit negotiator, was dismissed after Lord Mandelson’s failed security vetting for the role of US ambassador. Starmer told MPs: “I did ask him, and I did not accept his explanation. That is why I sacked him.” But friends of Robbins told The Independent that “no question was asked”. Starmer faced questions over how he failed to know about the vetting failure months after the story appeared.
Meanwhile, pressure is building on Burnham to act fast. One UnHerd opinion piece, citing MPs’ restlessness, argued he should call a snap election to capitalise on his charisma and a “Mr Labour” honeymoon period, before the political landscape shifts. With Labour MPs reportedly viewing him as “their last hope”, Burnham must decide whether to govern until 2029 or seek a fresh mandate.