With Keir Starmer's resignation confirmed and Andy Burnham now the red hot favourite to become the new man in Number 10 Downing Street, attention is turning to who could be in the top team he assembles as he hopes to take the country forward.
Burnham's Path to Leadership
Mr Burnham's place as the new Labour leader is not yet secured, with nominations for the top job not set to open until July 9. However, it seems increasingly unlikely that anyone will challenge him for the position or that anyone would be able to garner the support of 81 Labour MPs, needed to make it onto the ballot.
So with that in mind, it is not irrational to already start thinking about who will take up the top jobs in a Burnham administration. From a local perspective, could any of those taking up these roles be from this region?
Who Will Be Burnham's Chancellor?
While the putative PM's team insist no deals have been done, it was striking to many that his main rival for the leadership, former Health Secretary Wes Streeting, immediately ruled out his own tilt for the top job and backed Burnham. This has led many to speculate that Mr Streeting has been offered a major job in any future Burnham administration, with some suggestions this could see him made Chancellor of the Exchequer.
While this may be seen as a move to bring different parts of the Labour Party together, there would be concerns that Mr Burnham's more progressive economic ideas could be frustrated by someone more right leaning. This same concern could be levelled at current Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, another figure from the right of the party who has been linked with the job in Number 11 Downing Street.
A final name in the mix is former Labour leader and current Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, a long-term ally of Mr Burnham who beat him to the leadership of the party back in 2010. This appointment would appear to fit more closely with the ideas the new Makerfield MP has spoken about in terms of his economic vision and how he believes the green agenda can help to power growth. Mr Miliband also has strong Treasury experience.
Lots of (Mainly Northern) Women
When Andy Burnham stood in front of his supporters at a victory rally following his Makerfield victory last Friday, he said his campaign had been powered by Northern women. One of those women, Sheffield MP Louise Haigh introduced him at that rally. She played a pivotal role in running that successful campaign and having been forced to quit her last cabinet post over a past conviction, she is an absolute shoe-in for a key role in any Burnham administration.
The other woman stood flanking the new Makerfield MP at that event was Merseyside's own Anneliese Midgley, who was elected to represent Knowsley at the 2024 general election. Originally from Stockbridge Village (or Cantril Farm as it was then), she has a reputation for being a strong political organiser and was heavily involved in the running of the campaign. There are suggestions she could be teed up for a role such as Leader of the House of Commons or Chief Whip.
Lucy Powell is the elected deputy leader of the Labour Party; this role – and her close bond with Mr Burnham – could potentially line her up as a deputy Prime Minister and/or a senior cabinet role. Angela Rayner, the former deputy Prime Minister and another long-term Burnham ally, will surely make a cabinet comeback after her resignation over tax affairs last year. Expect a big role for the Mancunian.
Lisa Nandy is another northern woman who has long ties to the likely new Prime Minister. The Wigan MP was on home soil for last week's by-election victory and was smiling all night. The current Culture Secretary will surely be expecting a promotion in the cabinet. Another female figure widely expected to land a cabinet role is Peckham MP Miatta Fahnbulleh, the former boss of the New Economics Foundation, who has been advising the man likely to take the keys to Number 10 on policy.
Who Won't Be in the Cabinet
It seems highly unlikely that Mr Burnham would stick with Rachel Reeves as Chancellor given the current incumbent of Number 11's inextricable links to the man he is replacing, Sir Keir Starmer. Other key Starmer allies like Steve Reed, Pat McFadden and David Lammy also seem likely to be heading to the backbenches.
