Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said he was concerned about the "balance" of the Labour cabinet after a reshuffle prompted by Angela Rayner's resignation over an underpaid stamp duty bill.
Rayner resigned as housing secretary, deputy prime minister and deputy leader of the Labour Party, triggering a contest for the party's deputy leadership and prompting Sir Keir Starmer to reallocate senior portfolios. David Lammy was named deputy prime minister, Yvette Cooper moved to foreign secretary and Shabana Mahmood became home secretary. Among those to lose ministerial office was Leader of the House Lucy Powell.
Speaking on BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Burnham said the deputy leadership contest presented an opportunity to "have a discussion about the internal management" of the party and to address what he described as a London-centric tilt in the new-look cabinet. He said it would be "great" if the deputy leader came from the north of England and suggested Louise Haigh or Lucy Powell as possible candidates, both MPs who represent northern constituencies.
Burnham also criticised what he called heavy-handed treatment of MPs who opposed government proposals, saying they should not be "punished". He cited the loss of the whip by some colleagues, including Rachael Maskell, and compared the current approach unfavourably with practices under previous Labour governments.
Defence Secretary John Healey said the reshuffle marked a reset by Sir Keir Starmer and called for ministers to "go up a gear" to deliver for voters. Healey described Rayner as an "inspiration to many" and said the government would "miss" her, but defended the speed of the changes as necessary. He also indicated the government was considering using more military sites to accommodate asylum seekers.
Emily Thornberry, a Labour MP, said she was contemplating a run for the deputy leadership but emphasised the importance of what a candidate could bring to the role rather than their region. "What's important is what you bring... do you have the strength, do you have the experience, can you actually make a difference?" she said.
The deputy leadership of the Labour Party is a distinct post from the government role of deputy prime minister; Rayner had held both at the same time. Labour's national governing body is due to meet on Monday to set the timetable and eligibility rules for the deputy leadership election, according to LabourList.
The reshuffle and the deputy leadership contest come amid wider internal tensions over policy decisions, including disputes over winter fuel payments and disability benefits. Burnham said those internal rows highlighted the need for a different managerial style that keeps MPs with differing views engaged rather than sidelined.
Starmer moved quickly to fill the vacancies created by Rayner's departure, and senior figures framed the changes as necessary to restore stability and momentum. Healey urged the incoming team to demonstrate to the public that the government could "change their lives, make them feel better off and make them feel more secure."
The process for replacing Rayner as deputy leader will draw attention to regional representation within Labour as well as the balance of views inside the party, with some observers predicting it could expose or widen divisions between Downing Street and the party's left. The outcome of the contest will determine who holds a high-profile party role while the government implements its domestic and immigration policies.
Labour faces the immediate task of consolidating the messaging around the reshuffle and the reasons for Rayner's exit, while managing internal debates over policy and discipline. How the party conducts the deputy leadership election, and who emerges as a candidate, will shape conversations about inclusivity, geographic representation and the internal management style Burnham urged.
Further developments, including announcements of candidates and the governing body's decisions on the election timetable, are expected in the coming days as the party seeks to move on from the controversy and present a unified front to voters.