Two of Andy Burnham's newly appointed Labour ministers suffered an embarrassing gaffe on BBC Newsnight just hours after being given their roles. The blunder occurred as Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh and Environment Secretary Dame Angela Eagle left 10 Downing Street.
Newsnight Reporter's Attempt to Interview Ministers Backfires
BBC Newsnight reporter Nick Watt was outside No.10 attempting to get the new cabinet members to speak on camera. He called out: "We have Dame Angela Eagle and Miatta Fahnbulleh here. Will you come over, these leading ministers in the cabinet, will you come and say hello to Newsnight? Are you delighted with your jobs?" The pair responded in the background that they were delighted, but then doubled back after walking the wrong direction.
Watt turned to the camera and said: "And there they are, they're walking out, they walk out the wrong way. If I'm allowed to say it, obviously happy. There you go, off they go, finding their way out."
Social Media Reaction
Newsnight viewers quickly commented on the error. One asked: "Is Angela Eagle suffering from memory loss? She was a minister under Gordon Brown. Did she never visit No 10 during that period?" Another added: "They will be shown the exit soon enough." A third raged: "This literally sums up the Government!" A fourth mused: "How did they not know after all these years?"
Burnham's New Cabinet
Burnham has announced his full cabinet, with some names sparking backlash. Angela Rayner returns as Housing Secretary, Ed Miliband is Foreign Secretary, and John Healey is Chancellor.
