A number of prominent Labour figures are actively seeking cabinet positions as Andy Burnham prepares to become Prime Minister, with at least eight current or former ministers scheduled for public engagements. This period of jockeying for influence comes as the Downing Street handover approaches.
Notable figures with planned appearances include Ed Miliband, who allies are reportedly positioning for the role of Chancellor. Wes Streeting, Shabana Mahmood, and Pat McFadden are also among those with high-profile engagements. Business Secretary Peter Kyle, Health Secretary James Murray, Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds, and Secretary of State to the PM Darren Jones are also set to appear in public forums.
Angela Rayner and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper were active yesterday, with Cooper having authored an essay that included a warning about the potential impact of AI, comparing it to 'Hiroshima'. Streeting is scheduled to host an LBC phone-in show, a slot previously occupied by Rayner. McFadden is slated to deliver a significant speech, while Miliband is expected to participate in questions in the House of Commons. Mahmood, Kyle, and Reynolds, who is described as a close ally of Burnham, are scheduled to appear before parliamentary committees.
Murray participated in a Sky News broadcast discussing maternity services, and Jones, identified as a Starmer loyalist, is set to speak at a Politico event.
Burnham, in a recent interview, stated he was intentionally delaying decisions on government appointments. He indicated that his focus would be on outlining a new direction for the country before considering individual roles. "Westminster goes into its normal mode and it wants to endlessly speculate about personalities before policy and before direction," Burnham told LBC. "I very deliberately have said 'no, I'm going to set out a new direction for the country."
However, Burnham's approach may present challenges for the civil service, which typically engages in preliminary discussions with incoming departmental heads. There are also internal party considerations, with some female Labour MPs emphasizing the need for gender equality in ministerial appointments.
Speculation also surrounds the potential return of former New Labour figures, including Ed Balls, who is rumored to be considered for a commission role rather than a cabinet position. His marriage to Yvette Cooper adds another layer of complexity. Miliband has been strongly suggested for the Treasury, a prospect that has reportedly caused unease among business groups, unions, and moderate party members. His brother, David Miliband, has also been mentioned as a possibility for a return to public office, potentially as Foreign Secretary. Some within the Labour party have been critical of Yvette Cooper's performance as Foreign Secretary.
Sources suggest that the prospective Prime Minister intends to keep potential appointees in suspense, with announcements on roles possibly being deferred until after he officially takes office from Keir Starmer.