Who will be in Andy Burnham's cabinet?
Andy Burnham has said little about who will be in his top team.
Andy Burnham has remained tight-lipped about who he will bring into his Cabinet when the ex-Greater Manchester mayor takes over from Sir Keir Starmer as prime minister. Here, we take a look at who might be considered as part of Burnham’s top team.
Ed Miliband
Early on, Ed Miliband had been widely tipped as a possible successor to Rachel Reeves for the key post of chancellor.
It would show that the incoming prime minister largely backs the policy he has spearheaded as Sir Keir’s energy secretary, and chimes with Mr Burnham’s ambitions to use the net zero push as part of his industrialisation drive.
There have been reports that Mr Miliband might be willing to change his tune on North Sea drilling and drop his opposition to the Jackdaw and oil and gas field to secure the role.
But the former Labour leader would likely prove a divisive pick, as he has faced a backlash from those who see his net zero policies as damaging amid soaring energy prices.
Shabana Mahmood
Shabana Mahmood is also believed to be in the running for the role, but is thought to be eager to remain Home Secretary and see through the changes to the asylum system she has brought in.
Makerfield MP Mr Burnham backed the controversial reforms in a Commons vote days before he was due to become Labour leader.
He also signalled he was happy with her efforts to change the law to allow for the deportation of Rochdale grooming gang leader Shabir Ahmed, tweeting his approval that it was the “correct decision”.
Yvette Cooper
Yvette Cooper may be on the move to the Treasury, reports suggest, but she could also stay in post as Foreign Secretary.
She penned an essay in recent weeks that set out her stall in her current job, including calling for global regulation of artificial intelligence.
Ms Cooper could be Mr Burnham’s ideal continuity candidate as he has signalled he will stick to Sir Keir’s plans for closer ties with the EU, committing to Nato and the nuclear deterrent and supporting Ukraine.
Sir Keir Starmer
Outgoing prime minister Sir Keir has been raised as a fitting candidate for the post due to his foreign policy focus while in office.
But it is seen as unlikely that he would want to serve in the Cabinet after his ouster and Downing Street has signalled he will return to the back benches.
David Miliband
There have also been reports that David Miliband, brother of Ed, could return to frontline politics as foreign secretary with a seat in the Lords.
He held the Cabinet post under Gordon Brown, and after quitting as an MP in 2013 headed up the New York-based International Rescue Committee aid agency.
John Healey
John Healey quit as defence secretary over his objections to the lack of funding for the defence investment plan.
He has also been floated for a possible return to Cabinet, potentially in the foreign role.
Wes Streeting
Another ex-member of Sir Keir’s team who could be back in Cabinet is former health secretary Wes Streeting.
It is thought he may have made a deal with Mr Burnham in exchange for ruling himself out of the running to replace the prime minister.
Louise Haigh
MPs Louise Haigh was instrumental in Mr Burnham’s campaign to win the Makerfield by-election and return to parliament.
Ms Haigh left her post as transport secretary in 2024, several months after Labour came into power, after it emerged she had pleaded guilty to a criminal offence related to incorrectly telling police that a work mobile phone was stolen in 2013.
She recently revealed she has been planning Mr Burnham’s ascent to No 10 since last year, and there are reports she could take charge of the Cabinet Office as Mr Burnham’s chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
Other key allies
Another key ally of Mr Burnham, Knowsley MP Anneliese Midgley has only been in Parliament for two years, but has also been a central figure in his inner circle and has a background as a senior trade union and Labour Party official.
Miatta Fahnbulleh, who resigned as a housing minister in protest at Sir Keir’s leadership earlier this year, has been advising Mr Burnham and fleshing out his policy plans.
And Lucy Powell, who was shuffled out of Sir Keir’s Cabinet and subsequently became deputy Labour leader and a prominent Burnham backer, has also signalled she would be interested in returning to the front bench.
There have been reports she could be drafted in to fill the role of deputy prime minister, which may be based out of Manchester and give political direction to Mr Burnham’s No 10 North operation.
He may also bring back Angela Rayner, who has been cleared over her tax affairs since she quit as deputy prime minister and from the Cabinet.
What about Scottish Secretary?
It remains to be seen whether Douglas Alexander will keep his job as Scottish Secretary under Andy Burnham.
It has been suggested that energy minister Michael Shanks or business minister Blair McDougall could take over.
Former Scottish whip Martin McCluskey has also been mentioned, as has junior Scotland Office minister Kirsty McNeill.
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