New Prime Minister Andy Burnham has been accused of having a "woman problem" after handing almost every top government job to men, prompting criticism from Sky News presenter Sophy Ridge. The former Manchester Mayor assumed office on Monday following a coup that ousted Sir Keir Starmer, and promptly replaced Chancellor Rachel Reeves with John Healey, a fellow Cambridge graduate.
Only One Woman in Top Roles
Ridge challenged the new premier's team, noting that Britain has gone from three of the four great offices of state held by women to just one. The only woman remaining in a "great office" is Shabana Mahmood as Home Secretary. This shift occurred despite Burnham's earlier boast of being backed by "strong Labour women" when he won his Makerfield seat.
Former Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper was replaced by Ed Miliband, with Cooper moved to Health Secretary. While Health is an important role, the positions of Chancellor, Home Secretary, and Foreign Secretary are considered among the "great offices of state" alongside the Prime Minister.
Defense Falls Flat
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds was sent out to defend the cabinet but faced tough questions. When asked if Burnham has "a woman problem," Reynolds insisted, "We've got to take the whole Cabinet in the round." He pointed to Louise Haigh's role as First Secretary of State, despite her previous resignation after falsely reporting a stolen phone. Ridge retorted, "Are you really arguing that? We've got a male chancellor, we've got a male foreign secretary, we've got a male prime minister. But don't worry, love, we've got a female chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, come on!"
Reynolds continued, "Some of the powerful jobs in this government, and most powerful jobs in the Labour movement, Labour Party, are held by women." He added, "Of course, that balance is important. I wouldn't, you know, in any way deflect from that. But I think look at the overall team here."
