Andy Burnham is set to unveil his Cabinet on Monday after taking over as Prime Minister, with Westminster awash with rumours about who is in and who is out. One of the most unusual reports claimed that former Health Secretary Wes Streeting was spotted crying in the lift down from Burnham's office in Parliament. Ilford North MP Streeting responded on X: "Of all the bizarre speculation I've read in recent days, this is the best. I wasn't even present, let alone involved." He jested: "Hope my doppelgänger is ok though."
Burnham's Reform Agenda
Burnham, who was due to become Labour leader on Friday before taking over in No10 on Monday, has pledged major reforms in how the UK is governed. If he wants to send a strong signal of "change," he will need to appoint some new faces to his Cabinet. The former Greater Manchester Mayor is expected to promote more MPs from the North West and other regions to key posts, meaning some London MPs are likely to face demotion or sideways moves. However, other MPs from the capital could still be given top jobs. There are currently just 23 full Cabinet members, so Burnham has tough choices to make.
London MPs Under Threat
Health Secretary James Murray, Ealing North MP, looks most at risk of losing his Cabinet post among London MPs, mainly because he has only been in the role for a matter of months with little time to prove himself. He can point to resident doctors (formerly junior doctors) ending their strike action as a significant success. Also in his favour, if Burnham wants to depoliticise the NHS, Murray is an ideal Health Secretary. But politics often comes down to a numbers game, and with so few posts to dish out, Murray appears vulnerable. Quietly-spoken, he would not be expected to cause trouble if demoted or moved to the backbenches.
Communities Secretary Steve Reed, MP for Streatham and Croydon North, is one of the Government's best communicators. Burnham is setting up a "No10 North" in Manchester to drive economic growth in the regions, and union chiefs believe he may move a chunk of Reed's Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to the North. It would be odd if Burnham decided the best person to drive his devolution revolution is a London MP. Former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, Reed's predecessor, would be expected to be among the frontrunners for the post, but this does not appear to be a slam dunk.
Lammy and Streeting: Uncertain Futures
Justice Secretary David Lammy, Tottenham MP, played a key role in Sir Keir Starmer's campaign to be Labour leader in 2020 and has been an uber-loyalist. If Burnham wants to deliver change from the Starmer "ancien regime," Lammy is likely to be among the key figures he could move. As Justice Secretary, he has faced heavy criticism over the accidental release of prisoners and court reforms. However, axing him would lose an important conduit into the Trump administration—Lammy has developed a close working relationship with Vice President JD Vance, a significant strength when dealing with a highly unpredictable president.
Former Health Secretary Wes Streeting is expected to be given a swift comeback to the Cabinet after dramatically resigning from Sir Keir's government. He has been touted as a possible Chancellor, but Streeting, on the Right of Labour, is not on the same political page as Burnham, on the party's Left. Moving him to the Treasury would be a gamble. Burnham lived through the TB-GBs feud between Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, and moving Streeting back to complete health reforms would make the most sense, but politics often does not follow sense.
Burnham Allies and Rising Stars
Peckham MP Miatta Fahnbulleh is one of Labour's rising stars and a key Burnham ally. She was the first junior minister to resign from Sir Keir's government in May, stressing: "Whilst progress has been made, we have not acted with the vision, pace and ambition that our mandate for change demands of us." The former chief executive of the New Economics Foundation is believed to have worked on a policy blueprint for Burnham and has said central Government under his plans will be "far smaller" and strategic.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander, MP for Swindon South, is one of just four MPs left in Parliament who voted for Burnham in his first bid to be Labour leader in 2010. She also supported him in 2015 and was among the first Cabinet ministers who urged Sir Keir to set out a timetable for his departure. It is likely she will retain a senior job. Burnham has faced a particularly challenging decision in choosing his Chancellor. Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband was the early frontrunner, although Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood now looks to be the most likely replacement for Rachel Reeves. Other expected key roles include former Transport Secretary Louise Haigh (Sheffield Heeley), Labour Deputy Leader Lucy Powell (Manchester Central), Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy (Wigan), and Knowsley MP Anneliese Midgley. Starmer loyalist Darren Jones may well lose his job as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, with Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds and Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn also possibly facing demotion or leaving voluntarily.
