Frontrunners for Burnham’s cabinet revealed as prime minister-in-waiting picks top team

KAs Andy Burnham prepares to become premiership on Monday, all eyes are on what his top team will look like; But the competition over who will be the next chancellor is heating up.

The former Manchester Mayor’s premiership was cemented this week when he received the support of 369 of the party’s 403 MPs; This makes it mathematically impossible for a rival to enter the contest, meaning he is set for a coronation.

The former mayor would have benefited from almost all of the announced nominations had it not been for backbencher Neil Coyle, who chose former minister Catherine West, who withdrew from an unlikely leadership challenge against Sir Keir in May.

Mr Burnham, who was sworn in as an MP last month, faces demands from both inside and outside the Labor Party to bring about real change once he enters Number 10.

This not only means a change in policy, but also a change in the cabinet; Mr Burnham is likely to choose a team that reflects a wider range of views than the narrow-minded party represented by Sir Keir Starmer’s cabinet.

Mr. Burnham would of course have close allies whom he would want to reward with top jobs. But when it comes to choosing his cabinet, it will be one role above all others that will shape his government; his election as chancellor.

Here, Independent He’s looking at who can compete for his top team.

When Burnham becomes prime minister, who will be her chancellor?

After prime minister, the most important role in government is that of chancellor, and Mr Burnham’s election would be the biggest sign of Sir Keir’s change of direction.

With Rachel Reeves backing the Makerfield MP in what is seen as a last-ditch attempt to protect her job, she looks almost certain to be booted from the Treasury and potentially the government altogether.

With it will come economic policy and perhaps tight borrowing rules – although Mr Burnham has already indicated he will stick to them.

There are currently four names widely discussed as Mr Burnham’s future chancellor: Shabana Mahmood, Ed Miliband, Darren Jones and Wes Streeting.

These names represent very different approaches to economics; On the party’s right are Ms Mahmood, Blairite centrist Mr Streeting and Mr Miliband, a leading figure on the soft left.

Shabana Mahmood

After weeks of wrangling, Ms Mahmood is now in charge. He appears to be extremely competent after gaining a reputation as a tough home secretary. As an added bonus, her appointment will also allow Mr Burnham to remove her from the Home Office and fine-tune immigration policy.

The appointment of Ms Mahmood, who comes from Labour’s right wing, will calm market tensions amid concerns that Mr Burnham, in No 10, could unleash more debt. However, he had never held any economic duty as a minister before.

Ed Miliband

Mr Miliband has been longing for the job for some time and is one of the leading candidates to revise economic policy to the left.

While Mr Burnham has reportedly backed away from Mr Miliband’s prospect at the Treasury over fears the pair could clash as a result of his support for expensive net-zero policies, it was reported this week that the energy secretary could approve drilling in the North Sea to calm market unease over his possible appointment as chancellor and prove he is not a net-zero “bigot”.

But his history of taking a hardline approach to net zero policies has made him a controversial figure, an image that is difficult to shake.

Wes Street

Last month, Independent It emerged that Mr Streeting had asked for the role of chancellor as part of his agreement to withdraw from his own leadership bid, which he did the following week.

While his support for Mr Burnham is certainly a strong bargaining chip, allowing the former Manchester mayor to rise to No 10 without contest, the former health secretary is deeply distrusted on the left of the party.

Mr Streeting, who has a reputation as a Blairite moderniser, would be a decisive choice as chancellor, and sources close to the former health secretary are keen to stress that he and Mr Burnham share significant similarities in their approach to the economy.

But many think he is an extremely toxic choice for the top job in Mr Burnham’s cabinet.

Darren Jones

Mr Jones, for his part, is a centrist who represents what remains of the Starmer loyalist camp and will provide some continuity as Ms Reeves’ former Under Secretary to the Treasury.

Mr Jones last month backed off his threat to oppose Mr Burnham, but in the hope that he would become chancellor rather than one of the other frontrunners, according to some Labor sources.

But his close relationship with the Starmer government is likely to deter Mr Burnham from appointing him because he would not be seen as a sign of a change in direction.

More female MPs can be brought to the cabinet

A number of female MPs are likely to play key roles in Mr Burnham’s cabinet.

At the top of that list is Louise Haigh, who was forced out of Sir Keir’s transport minister’s cabinet after past criminal convictions involving mobile phone fraud were revealed.

He has revived his career – not least as a key figure in Mr Burnham’s campaign co-ordinating his move at Makerfield and his wider bid to become the new Labor leader. If Mr Burnham becomes Prime Minister, he is expected to take on the key co-ordinating role as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, running the cabinet office, the engine of government.

Ms Haigh’s allies told Independent He said he has already taken up his post as the new chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, where he will run the cabinet office and work closely with the prime minister and Downing Street.

Another key figure in his campaign was Knowsley MP Anneliese Midgley, who is likely to take on a key role in the cabinet as Leader of the House of Commons.

Former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner is also preparing for a comeback. He quietly put aside his own leadership ambitions to support Mr Burnham. He was forced to resign over tax matters but is now eyeing a senior job, perhaps even home secretary.

Mr Burnham’s ally and party deputy leader Lucy Powell is also likely to have a cabinet position and could serve as deputy leader. He could replace Steve Reed, who runs local government, housing and communities, or possibly take the education job.

The current culture minister, Lisa Nandy, will be promoted and she will also look after education.

It will be interesting to see who will be given the role of defense minister in Burnham’s government. The money belongs to former Armed Forces Secretary Al Carns, who recently resigned over defense spending. However, do not ignore the return of John Healey, who also resigned as defense minister. He might even get the secretary of state job.

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Who would come out?

There is a possibility of wholesale change, which means some surprising numbers could emerge. Deputy prime minister David Lammy, a close ally of Sir Keir, is expected to find himself on the backbenchers.

There is also speculation that Mr Burnham will break away from Morgan McSweeney allies, particularly welfare minister Pat McFadden and housing minister Steve Reed; although both are considered extremely competent.

Meanwhile, tech secretary Liz Kendall, who has previously failed in the welfare job, is unlikely to get a role in any Burnham cabinet.

One issue may be what he will do with the current foreign secretary, Yvette Cooper, who told Starmer early on that he had to go. He’ll probably survive a potential cull, but he’ll probably get a different job.

However, what is always true in new cabinet elections is that surprise names always emerge.

But it may only be a few weeks before we find out.