Andy Burnham's pledge to unite the Labour Party has been met with internal turmoil and criticism, as disputes over Cabinet appointments threaten to undermine his leadership just days after his ascension. Allies described his commitment to end factionalism as "dead on arrival" due to mounting chaos surrounding the formation of his new government.
Central to the disarray is the potential appointment of Ed Miliband as the next Chancellor. Reports indicate that Miliband's aspirations for the Treasury may have been dashed following briefings suggesting Burnham intended to appoint Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to the role. However, Burnham allies accuse Mahmood and her team of attempting to "brief herself into the job," a move that reportedly angered Burnham and his newly appointed chief of staff, James Purnell.
Burnham himself addressed the internal strife in his recent speech, vowing to end "insidious briefing culture" and emphasizing that Labour could not defeat the "new Right" if "consumed by infighting." Despite these pronouncements, sources claim Mahmood denied involvement in the Treasury briefings, stating she was in a secure Home Office room for four hours during the time the briefings occurred. This explanation was reportedly met with skepticism by colleagues who noted her known dislike for the room.
Further complicating the Cabinet landscape, there are suggestions that the new Northern Secretary could hold a higher rank in the Cabinet than the Chancellor, a prospect the Treasury is expected to resist. The fallout from Sir Keir Starmer's recent ousting also continues to cast a shadow, with a faction of his remaining supporters reportedly angered by Burnham's claim that he supported all Labour leaders throughout his career and played no part in Starmer's removal. "Andy may be the King of the North and South just now but the Starmer loyalists will be lying in wait for him," one senior MP stated, adding that Burnham's hopes for unity were "dead on arrival."
Concerns have also been raised regarding a proposed restructuring that would abolish Liz Kendall's Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). The plan involves transferring DSIT officials to a new Northern department and assigning its responsibilities to the Business Department. This potential disruption has sparked worries about the impact on work related to social media bans and artificial intelligence. Sources suggest that Chief Whip Jonathan Reynolds has already initiated discussions with current Business Secretary Peter Kyle regarding departmental plans, reportedly based on a prior promise of the position.
Several key figures are expected to depart the government, including Housing Secretary Steve Reed, Attorney General Lord Hermer, and Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy, all reportedly loyalists of Sir Keir Starmer.