Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Andy Burnham held private talks today for the first time in nearly two months, as Starmer prepares to hand over power. The pair met for a secret hour-long meeting away from Downing Street, a day after Starmer dramatically set out plans to stand down. It is the first time they have spoken since the start of the Makerfield by-election campaign.
Starmer Authorises Civil Service Briefings for Candidates
Mr Starmer told his Cabinet that he wanted an “orderly transition” and insisted he would make the handover “as easy as possible” for his replacement. The Prime Minister today authorised civil servants to begin briefing Mr Burnham and any other leadership candidates to allow them to prepare for government.
Mr Burnham is the clear frontrunner to succeed the PM and could enter Downing Street on July 17 unless another candidate steps forward. He will hit the campaign trail in south London tomorrow ahead of a local council by-election, and attend a rally of Labour supporters. He is also expected to begin setting out what his agenda would look like in a series of speeches.
Momentum Builds Behind Burnham as Cabinet Jostling Begins
Momentum continued to build behind the ex-Greater Manchester mayor as members of Mr Starmer’s top team began jostling for positions in his Cabinet. Ed Miliband, the Energy Secretary and former Labour leader, has been widely tipped to replace Chancellor Rachel Reeves at the Treasury. But he has sparked tensions with unions over his net zero agenda, with Unite’s Sharon Graham warning last week his appointment “would be a noose around the neck” of job creation.
An ally of Mr Miliband said: “Ed is the only person with the experience to deliver a credible economic strategy for the country that is fiscally disciplined and delivers the change the country needs.”
There is also speculation that Wes Streeting, who pulled the plug on his own leadership ambitions to throw his weight behind Mr Burnham, could head up the Treasury, though this could prove controversial with left-wing MPs.
Home Secretary and Deputy PM Roles Under Scrutiny
A minister told The Mirror they expect Shabana Mahmood to remain as Home Secretary, in spite of speculation also linking her to the Chancellor job. Ms Mahmood herself is keen to remain in post, believing the Home Office will be integral to keeping Reform out of No10.
Lucy Powell - Labour’s deputy leader and a close ally of Mr Burnham - is expected to be a key figure. Despite winning the contest for Labour’s second-in-command post last year, she was not given a Cabinet role and David Lammy was made Deputy PM by Mr Starmer. Mr Lammy, who is one of the most senior Black politicians in Labour history, has said Mr Burnham would have his “full support” as PM.
MPs Advise Keeping Some Starmer Ministers for Stability
One left-leaning MP, who has long supported Mr Burnham, told The Mirror that keeping some of Mr Starmer’s Cabinet ministers in place would be a good idea. They said: “I genuinely think you should keep Pat [McFadden] at the DWP [Department for Work and Pensions]. I think he can get the job done. Bridget’s [Phillipson] done a good job at education, why would you move her? But if he wants a full reset, he might have to clear everyone out.”
Ms Phillipson is understood to support Mr Burnham taking over and would be keen to carry on the work she has started as Education Secretary, especially reforms of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision.
An ally of Ms Phillipson told The Mirror: “Bridget is midway on the journey to transform the SEND system so it works for families, but there is still a lot more to do, including getting a bill through parliament.”
Mr McFadden, who is currently undertaking multiple reviews into welfare changes, is understood to have had talks with colleagues about wanting to see through reforms.
Environment and Transport Secretaries Back Burnham
Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds also backed Mr Burnham, describing him as “fantastic communicator” who would provide a “different and compelling story”.
The Mirror understands that Heidi Alexander’s circle hopes she could stay on as Transport Secretary. She was one of the Cabinet ministers to urge Mr Starmer to step aside last week and has been delivering on the re-nationalisation of the railways - an issue Mr Burnham is passionate about. She also backed Mr Burnham in his previous two leadership bids in 2010 and 2015.
Angela Rayner Set to Return to Frontline Politics
Ex-Deputy Angela Rayner, who last month settled her tax bill with HMRC, is also set to return to frontline politics in a Burnham government. She could return to her former role as Housing Secretary, which would be a key position in a government led by Mr Burnham.
Housing Secretary Steve Reed, a key Starmer loyalist who is now supportive of Mr Burnham, also wants to stay on to deliver on work including social and affordable homes, a crackdown on foreign money in politics, electoral reform and community cohesion.
“Steve is committed to pushing forward with the radical reforms he has started on housing, local government, devolution, and giving people more control over public services,” a source close to Mr Reed said. “The most important thing now for the country is to provide stability and unity, not the chaos and infighting we saw under the Tories.”
Burnham to Bring in Close Allies, Including Northern Female MPs
But while many of Mr Starmer's ministers will be vying for a top job, Mr Burnham will want to bring in those closest to him, including a group of influential northern female MPs who helped him win in Makerfield. This includes possible roles for former Transport Secretary Louise Haigh, MP for Knowsley Anneliese Midgley, a former Unite union official, and Sally Jameson, the MP for Doncaster Central and former prison officer who recently worked as an aide in the Ministry of Justice.
Miatta Fahnbulleh, who quit as a minister in May after losing faith in Mr Starmer, is likely to get a senior position.
There will also be decisions on crucial backroom roles in Downing Street, including chief-of-staff and director of communications. Josh Simons, who stood down as the Makerfield MP to make way for Mr Burnham, is expected to get a top job.
Economic Advisers and Balanced Cabinet Considerations
Mr Burnham has already been consulting with Jim O’Neill, a former chief economist for Goldman Sachs, Andy Haldane, a former Bank of England economist, and Richard Hughes, the former head of the OBR watchdog.
A government source said: “There’s a need for a balanced Cabinet. We’ll have a party leader and deputy leader from Manchester so it’s important the government doesn’t take its eye off London, especially given how Labour took a bit of a beating in the local elections in the capital. Keeping senior heavyweights in the Cabinet is important. There is the issue that Burnham may take over with just over three weeks' notice. He’ll need to bring new people of course but in vital delivery departments, consistency could be important in ensuring a smooth transition and first 100 days.”
