Prime Minister Andy Burnham has unveiled a new cabinet with a pronounced geographical shift, appointing three times as many ministers from northern constituencies as southern ones in an effort to decentralize power from London. Backbenchers have celebrated this move, coining the term 'march of the Northern Queens' to describe the influx of northern representation.
The geographical center of power has demonstrably shifted north, now situated between Sheffield and Knowsley in Merseyside. Burnham's top team includes 14 members from northern constituencies, four from the Midlands, four from London, two from the South, three from Wales, and one from Scotland. This composition aims to foster a 'No 10 North' and devolve power away from Whitehall.
However, the composition of the cabinet has also drawn attention for its educational and personal backgrounds. The proportion of ministers educated at private schools has nearly tripled compared to the previous administration, standing at 24 percent, significantly higher than the 6 percent of the general population who attend fee-paying schools. Ministers educated at Eton College, Westminster School, Cheltenham College, and Pearson College in Canada, some on scholarships, are part of the new government. In contrast, 41 percent of the cabinet hail from the North, and over half attended Oxford or Cambridge universities.
Questions have been raised regarding the integrity of some appointments. Louise Haigh, appointed First Secretary of State, has faced scrutiny regarding a past conviction for fraud. Angela Rayner, reappointed to the housing brief, resigned from government after failing to pay £40,000 in stamp duty on her London flat. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has apologized for misrepresenting his work experience, and new Education Secretary Lucy Powell previously faced controversy for her remarks on the grooming gang scandal.
Despite the emphasis on northern representation and a stated aim to be a 'man of the people,' nearly a quarter of the cabinet attended private schools. This contrasts with the backgrounds of previous administrations, and critics have questioned the suitability of these appointees to govern.
The cabinet also features several individuals with familial ties to prominent Labour figures. Ed Miliband serves as Foreign Secretary, while Yvette Cooper is Health Secretary, married to former minister Ed Balls. Dame Angela Eagle is Environment Secretary, with her sister Maria Eagle also a sitting Labour MP. Stephen Kinnock, Welsh Secretary, has parents who are former Labour politicians. Ellie Reeves, Attorney General, has a sister who served as former chancellor, and her husband and in-laws are also connected to the Labour party. Hamish Falconer, European Relations Minister, is the son of a Labour peer. Douglas Alexander, Scotland Secretary, has a sister who was a former Scottish Labour leader. Alex Norris, Justice Secretary, is married to a sitting Labour MP. Jonathan Reynolds, Business Secretary, is married to a former political director under Keir Starmer. Wes Streeting, Defence Secretary, has a fiancé who is a senior Labour strategist. Angela Rayner, Housing Secretary, has a partner who is a former Labour MP. Pat McFadden, Work and Pensions Secretary, is married to a former No 10 aide. Baroness Angela Smith, Leader of the House of Lords, is married to a former Labour group leader.
While there are more women in Burnham's cabinet, Shabana Mahmood, as Home Secretary, is the sole woman holding a great office of state.