Rachel Reeves has publicly backed Andy Burnham to become Prime Minister, even as allies of Mr. Burnham reportedly signal that Ms. Reeves is unlikely to remain in her position as Chancellor. Ms. Reeves stated her belief that the former Greater Manchester Mayor would be "great" in Number 10 as he moves closer to taking leadership from Keir Starmer.
Sources indicate that Ms. Reeves' allies have been actively attempting to persuade Mr. Burnham not to replace her at the Treasury. Ms. Reeves did not attend Sir Keir Starmer's resignation statement but was later seen in a group photograph with Mr. Burnham and other Labour MPs.
Advisers have reportedly contacted businesses, encouraging them to lobby the incoming Prime Minister on the importance of economic stability. However, Mr. Burnham's allies have been circulating information suggesting Ms. Reeves will be replaced. Ed Miliband is cited as a potential favorite for the Chancellor role, despite concerns about his economic policies and focus on Net Zero initiatives.
In a BBC interview, Ms. Reeves declined to comment on speculation about a potential junior role. "I'm not going to pre-empt the decisions that the new prime minister will make," she said. "I'm backing Andy. I think he'd be a great prime minister, but those are his decisions, not mine to make."
Darren Jones, another Cabinet minister previously aligned with Sir Keir Starmer, has also commented on the requirements for a new Chancellor. Mr. Jones suggested that any appointee should not seek to "control" the Prime Minister and must be capable of reassuring markets, trade unions, MPs, and the public. He did not explicitly state whether he believed Mr. Miliband met these criteria.
Ms. Reeves emphasized her commitment to Sir Keir Starmer over the past six years, serving as Shadow Chancellor and then Chancellor of the Exchequer. She noted that whoever assumes the roles of Prime Minister and Chancellor will inherit a stronger economy than the one she took over two years prior. Her remarks precede an upcoming address at the British Chamber of Commerce's global annual conference.
With potential challengers to Mr. Burnham reportedly stepping aside, he is expected to be confirmed as Prime Minister on July 17. Al Carns, a former armed forces minister, remains a possible contender and has called for a thorough debate on the country's future, though he stated he would support Mr. Burnham if assurances were made on policies like military funding.
Mr. Burnham may face international scrutiny. U.S. President Donald Trump has described Mr. Burnham as "extremely liberal" and suggested he would not support oil exploration in the North Sea, stating that "the UK is dying." Mr. Burnham has previously been critical of Mr. Trump, remarking in June that U.S. politics was "polarized" and "poisonous." Following the January 2021 events at the U.S. Capitol, Mr. Burnham posted on X, "Any UK politician who gave Trump the time of day should be ashamed right now."