Rachel Reeves is facing the sack in Labour bloodbath | Politics | News
It has been claimed that Rachel Reeves will be sacked as Chancellor by Andy Burnham if she dismisses Sir Keir Starmer. The wannabe Prime Minister, who won the Makerfield by-election on Friday, will come to Westminster tomorrow.
Sir Keir is under intense pressure to stand down or set a timetable for his departure. Ms. Reeves’ allies launch a charm offensive to keep her in place.
They say the Chancellor would have the advantage of reassuring markets during any transition.
But Mr. Burnham’s allies concluded it would not represent a sufficient change of direction.
Energy secretary Ed Miliband, former health secretary Wes Streeting, work and pensions secretary Pat McFadden and former defense secretary John Healey have all been floated as potential candidates.
Mr Burnham was urged to publicly refuse to appoint Miliband as Chancellor on Saturday.
Sharon Graham, general secretary of Unite, Britain’s largest union, said: “It’s no secret that I disagree with Ed on almost every issue related to workers’ transition. Ed seems only interested in one side of the equation, accelerating Britain towards net zero with almost no consideration for jobs, skills and national security.”
He also called on Mr Burnham to urge Sir Keir not to back down on plans to water down electric car sales targets, reverse his opposition to a third runway at Heathrow and return to North Sea oil drilling.
Mr Burnham will be sworn in as MP for Makerfield tomorrow.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper is understood to have told the prime minister to stand down, and a growing number of cabinet ministers are losing faith in his leadership, the BBC reported.
Economist Jim O’Neill, who has long been an informal adviser to him, has called on the Mayor of Greater Manchester to lift the pension triple lock.
Mr O’Neill said: “What I’m trying to say to him is that you’re passionate about being a leader, you need to tackle the sacred cows one of these years and think the reward will be a significantly lower bond market premium and a big increase in financial conditions that will boost consumer and corporate confidence.”
