Andy Burnham is finalising his Cabinet before becoming prime minister on Monday, with social care reform set to be a top priority.
Andy Burnham is finalising his Cabinet before becoming prime minister on Monday, as the Andy Burnham Cabinet planning around his first day in office draws close. The new Labour leader said on Friday that he had not yet settled on his top team, but insisted the choices would be announced shortly.
Burnham told reporters it would be premature to begin a reshuffle before he formally takes power, warning that doing so would create chaos. There has already been heavy speculation over the names likely to join him in government, with Ed Miliband and Shabana Mahmood both mentioned as possible replacements for Rachel Reeves as chancellor. Burnham said the final decisions were still being worked through and would be revealed on Monday.
In his first speech as Labour leader at TUC headquarters in central London, Burnham said his appointments would reflect “all parts of our party” and “all communities.” He set out a broad promise of major change, saying his government would restore hope to working-class communities and shift power away from Westminster toward the regions. He also said he wanted a political style built around problem-solving rather than point-scoring.
Social care is expected to be one of the first big tests for the new administration. Burnham said he would spend considerable political capital on the issue, which he described as badly neglected. He said the system is broken and pointed to the pressure on staff and families. He also repeated his long-held view that the state has avoided making hard decisions on care for too long. Any reforms would apply only to England, since social care is devolved.
The Labour leader’s rise has been swift. He returned to Parliament in a by-election a month ago, then secured backing from 379 Labour MPs and all 11 unions affiliated with the party, leaving him as the only leadership candidate. He is due to take over from Sir Keir Starmer after a reception with King Charles III on Monday. Burnham paid tribute to Starmer on Friday, highlighting record in government such as stronger rights for workers and renters, lower NHS waiting lists, and the return of rail into public control.
Reaction to Burnham’s arrival has already split across the political field. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said Burnham had no mandate and called for an immediate general election. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said he welcomed Burnham’s call for more cooperative politics and said his party would want to see changes in water, the NHS, and social care. Conservative chairman Kevin Hollinrake urged Burnham to recall Parliament to explain his plans, while Unison’s Linda Hobson said he must deliver the hope he has promised. The Andy Burnham Cabinet announcement will now be watched closely for signs of how far he intends to break with the recent past. Why it matters: Burnham’s first moves will shape whether Labour can reset its message and convince voters the government has a real plan.
