Andy Burnham's premiership will kick off with an 'absolute bloodbath' in the Cabinet, with several political heavyweights set for the axe, it has been suggested. Daily Express Associate Editor James Walker singled out three figures almost certain to be ousted under the new Labour leader in the latest episode of the Daily Expresso podcast.
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy at Risk
Walker told host JJ Anisobi that Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, Chancellor Rachel Reeves, and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper were in the most vulnerable positions, despite the seniority of their current roles. 'David Lammy [is] not necessarily the sharpest member of the Cabinet,' Mr Walker said. 'It would be very strange to keep him there. And frankly, I don't really think there's anyone who rates him particularly highly.'
'He doesn't command a wing of the party, he's not super charismatic and he's not one of those Corbyn figures who people rally around. He's just kind of there.'
Chancellor Rachel Reeves Expected to Go
Rachel Reeves' sacking is also 'an obvious one', he said. 'You can tell she thinks she's going because she's doing these press interviews now where she's basically sending warnings to Andy Burnham. You can tell clearly that she's been told behind the scenes 'you're not keeping your job'.'
He attributed this decision to Ms Reeves' record as Chancellor, from the winter fuel payment debacle to her various unpopular tax rises. 'Every disaster of Keir Starmer's premiership, I'm not defending Starmer here, but I would say [can be] more or less laid at her door,' he added.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper on the Chopping Block
Mr Walker went on to describe Ms Cooper as 'possibly the biggest name on the chopping block'. 'She'll be one of the first [to go],' he said. 'She used to be Home Secretary, did a pretty bad job of that if you remember. That's when the whole small boats thing was going out of control.'
'No one in Whitehall rates her. What sources have told me is that she takes about two weeks to make a decision on anything. I don't think there's any love lost between her and Burnham. She's one of these dinosaurs that is too big to get rid of. So she'll be moved to an easier role, a role where she can't do too much damage.'
Bloodbath Expected on July 20
The incoming Westminster shakeup, which will see Mr Burnham formally take over from Mr Starmer as Prime Minister on July 20, will amount to an 'absolute bloodbath', Mr Walker said. Mr Burnham, the former Greater Manchester mayor, who was elected as MP for Makerfield last month, has the backing of at least 349 Labour MPs to become their party leader. It is now mathematically impossible for another candidate to secure the 81 supporters necessary to launch a late bid for the keys to Number 10.
