No 10 ‘boys club’ briefing culture will change under Andy Burnham, says Lucy Powell
Lucy Powell insisted the “boys’ club” culture at No 10, including “disgusting” anonymous briefings targeting women, will change under Sir Keir Starmer’s potential successor Andy Burnham.
Labor’s deputy leader said he believed the “unpleasant” culture would be different under Mr Burnham. Guard In Sir Keir’s Downing Street, “there was a clear pattern over time of anonymous, obnoxious briefings against colleagues, disproportionately directed at women.”
He continued: “But there was also a culture that became very factional, and appointments were made based on what group or what fellowship you belonged to… It wasn’t a meritocracy in any sense, it wasn’t a broad church.”
Ms Powell, a Burnham supporter, said the briefings “created a culture of not feeling like you could speak openly about certain issues for fear of leaving a black mark on your name”.
She pointed to a “boys’ club” at the top of the Government, saying female Cabinet ministers, including Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, were disproportionately targeted.
Asked if she thought that would change under Mr Burnham, Ms Powell said: “I am changing; how about something we all need to help and be a part of?”
Mr Burnham reportedly told women in the Parliamentary Labor Party this week that he would sack anyone in his team found giving negative briefings.
As ministers vie for appointment to Burnham’s Cabinet, there is intense focus on who she will choose and how many women will be in her senior team.
Ms Powell said the debate was “not about quotas” but “making us think about all of these things” and “listening to the quiet voices too” as more diversity leads to “better decisions”.
Mr Burnham, the Makerfield MP who is facing accusations that he has evaded scrutiny when he is expected to enter Downing Street as early as July 20, posted a video answering questions on social media platform Instagram on Saturday.
They focused mainly on issues on which he had already laid out his plans, including taking “stronger public control over essential services” such as water and energy, overseeing “the largest town hall building program this country has seen since the Second World War” and promising to “increase business rates in out-of-town warehouses so that we can completely eliminate high street businesses, particularly hospitality businesses”.
The former Greater Manchester mayor has revealed his ideal Greggs order is sausage, cheese and melted beans.
The video came after an Ask Me Anything (AMA) session on social media site Reddit on Friday, where he faced criticism for refusing to take questions from reporters following a key speech he had made so far in his leadership campaign.
Meanwhile, outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir, in his first sit-down interview since announcing his resignation, said Labor “should win the next election” under Mr Burnham for his work in power.
Asked about his achievements as Prime Minister and Labor leader, Sir Keir noted his efforts to tackle antisemitism in the opposition party, his 2024 general election victory and said his Government had “stabilised the economy” over the last two years.
He added: “My successor will have a platform to build on, which means Labor can move on and go on to win the next election.
“And I’m trying to make sure that I can do that over the next few days to be able to serve my country and make sure that I submit.
“My political journey has come to an end. I am very clear about this.
“I’ve told all my colleagues that this is not the end of their journey. And it’s important that we all do what we can to make sure what comes next is a success. That’s what I will do.”
Sir Keir also insisted he had “no personal animosity” towards Mr Burnham and would only support the next administration by providing advice “if requested”.
