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Rachel Reeves’ future at the top of government is suddenly facing fresh uncertainty as speculation grows over what an Andy Burnham-led administration could look like.
Following Keir Starmer’s shock resignation announcement, attention has rapidly shifted to who could take over Labour’s leadership and what changes might follow behind the scenes. One of the biggest questions now surrounds the Chancellor’s position.
Speaking on BBC Breakfast, chief political correspondent Henry Zeffman revealed that sources close to Andy Burnham have indicated Reeves would not remain Chancellor if the Greater Manchester Mayor succeeds Starmer and enters Downing Street.
While such a move may not come as a complete surprise given the scale of a potential leadership transition, the suggestion that Reeves could be offered a more junior Cabinet role has raised eyebrows across Westminster.
Zeffman noted that it would be highly unusual for a former Chancellor to step into a less senior ministerial position. However, he stressed that Burnham’s team insists no final decisions have been made regarding Cabinet appointments.
One senior role that appears much clearer is the position of Chief of Staff. According to the BBC, Burnham is expected to appoint former Cabinet minister James Purnell to oversee operations in Downing Street should he become Prime Minister.
Purnell served in Gordon Brown’s government between 2007 and 2009 before moving into senior roles outside politics, including a lengthy spell as a BBC executive.
The growing discussion around Labour’s future follows Burnham’s recent return to Parliament after winning the Makerfield by-election. Since Starmer announced his resignation, Burnham has emerged as the leading contender to replace him and is currently the only declared candidate.
If no challenger enters the race, Burnham could find himself walking into Number 10 remarkably quickly, with reports suggesting he could become Prime Minister as early as July 17.
Not everyone has ruled themselves out, however. Former Royal Marines officer Al Carns has indicated he is still weighing up whether to enter the contest, saying he wants to better understand Burnham’s policy agenda before deciding his next move.
Under Labour Party rules, leadership hopefuls must secure nominations from 81 Labour MPs as well as backing from local party branches or affiliated organisations, including trade unions.
In his resignation speech, Starmer outlined plans for nominations to open on July 9 and for the contest to conclude before Parliament returns after the summer recess. He also pledged to remain in office until a successor is chosen and promised to support the incoming leader throughout the transition.
As Labour prepares for one of its most significant leadership changes in years, questions are already mounting over who will hold the most powerful jobs in government and whether Rachel Reeves will remain among them.
