Andy Burnham’s cabinet – who’s in and who’s out as Reeves sacked as chancellor
Rachel Reeves and David Lammy are among several senior ministers set to leave the government as the new prime minister prepares to appoint his new cabinet.
These ministers will form the top team of the new government and will help implement the policy agenda it has set.
Ahead of the big reshuffle, Business Minister Peter Kyle and Housing Minister Steve Reed also resigned.
Mr Burnham has been tight-lipped about his choice of appointment as he approaches his inauguration, with speculation reaching fever pitch over the weekend.
Ms Reeves’ allies said she had been offered a “big job” in government but had decided to reject the offer. In his resignation statement, he wished his successor, Mr Burnham, and his cabinet “the best of luck”.
He wrote: “It has been the privilege of my life to serve as Chancellor of the Exchequer.
“The economy is stronger, fairer and more resilient today, thanks to the choices we have made as a Labor Government over the last two years.”
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is understood to be Mr Burnham’s favorite to be the next chancellor, with some warning the move could divide Labor MPs.
Meanwhile, Ed Miliband, a long-time ally of the veteran politician, is also tipped for promotion from the current energy briefing. Insiders have hinted he could be a candidate for the role of foreign secretary after initially being linked with the Treasury job.
Follow The Independent’s live blog for the latest political updates from Andy Burnham’s first day as prime minister
Mr Burnham, who was an MP from 2001 to 2017, has many allies in the halls of Westminster that he may want to keep close as he charts a new path as prime minister.
The former mayor was at the forefront of a cabinet during Gordon Brown’s administration from 2007 to 2010, which at some points included current ministers Ed Miliband, Yvette Cooper, Pat McFadden and John Healey.
Delivering his opening speech on the steps of Number 10, Mr Burnham called on people to “pull me along” to “build a new sense of national unity, common purpose and positivity”.
“Let’s do this at the moment when Britain starts to believe again, when we bring back hope,” he said.
In his six-minute speech, he said he would produce a ten-year plan for England towards the end of this year and would take action on Tuesday to tackle the cost of living to give people “breathing space now”.
He added: “I am acutely aware that I am the sixth person to walk this street in the last 10 years and the seventh prime minister since 2016, which makes this a moment of reflection and new solutions.
“My generation of politicians need to step up our game and take on new challenges.”
The crowd for Mr Burnham’s speech included his long-time friend and ally, Liverpool mayor Steve Rotheram, former footballer Peter Reid, who plays for Mr Burnham’s favorite club Everton, and former MP Josh Simons, who was at Makerfield to mark his return to Westminster.
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