Andrew Burnham – who took over as prime minister promising a “circuit breaker” for British politics – has started in post with a bang. The new PM conducted a brutal purge of Starmer loyalists, sacking more than nine ministers who had close ties with his predecessor. David Lammy, Darren Jones, Rachel Reeves and Peter Kyle all left the government, while others – including John Healey – had shock promotions.
Here, The Independent looks at the key winners and losers of today’s brutal reshuffle so far.
Winners
John Healey
John Healey is the big winner from today’s reshuffle, taking home arguably the most important job in government, bar prime minister. The former defence secretary’s appointment as chancellor is a deeply surprising move from Andy Burnham, and follows weeks of speculation that either Shabana Mahmood or Ed Miliband could be his chancellor.
Mr Healey quit Sir Keir Starmer’s government amid a row over defence spending. But he now has the keys to the Treasury, a department he so viciously criticised for standing in the way of more funding for Britain’s military. The move signals that Mr Burnham’s government will prioritise Britain’s military, and suggests that No 10 will fall in line with Mr Healey’s vision for defence spending.
Ed Miliband
Mr Burnham has appointed Ed Miliband as foreign secretary, making him another key winner of Monday’s reshuffle. While it is not quite chancellor – a role that he missed out on amid speculation that appointing him to the Treasury could spook the markets – it is one of the four great offices of state and is a clear promotion for the left-wing energy secretary.
Earlier this week, The Independent reported that Mr Burnham is planning a major shake-up of the Foreign Office, which is expected to include a roadmap to return the UK to spending 0.7 per cent of GDP on international aid and give Mr Miliband explicit permission to prioritise tackling climate goals through the department.
Louise Haigh
Louise Haigh, who was forced to resign as transport secretary after it emerged she pleaded guilty to a fraud offence a decade ago, has been brought back into government as First Secretary of State, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and minister for the Cabinet Office. The role puts her at the heart of Mr Burnham’s government, a move which comes as no surprise given she has been planning Mr Burnham’s ascent to power since last year.
Angela Rayner
Nearly one year after she was forced to resign over her tax affairs, Angela Rayner has returned to the frontline of government as housing secretary.
Once dubbed Labour’s Red Queen, she had left the same role in Sir Keir Starmer’s cabinet last September, as well as stepping down from her jobs as Labour’s deputy leader and deputy prime minister. The Ashton-under-Lyne MP has since been cleared of any wrongdoing by HMRC.
She was spotted meeting with Mr Burnham in Greater Manchester earlier this year, in a sign she was willing to back his bid for No 10. A socialist, Ms Rayner championed Labour’s workers’ rights package in her previous cabinet role.
Losers
Rachel Reeves
Rachel Reeves is a key loser of Monday’s reshuffle, announcing in the afternoon that she will be leaving government. Posting to social media, Ms Reeves said it was the “privilege of my life to serve as the chancellor”.
While allies of the former chancellor have claimed she was offered a “big job” in government but decided to decline it, rather than being sacked, it is highly unlikely she would have been offered a role as significant as chancellor.
Lord Hermer
Sir Keir Starmer’s attorney general Lord Richard Hermer – a key ally of the former PM – confirmed he is leaving the cabinet, saying he will support Andy Burnham’s Labour government from the backbenches.
Lord Hermer has a long-standing personal relationship with Sir Keir, with the pair working together at Doughty Street Chambers together from 1996.
But he became a lightning rod for criticism during the Starmer government, with the Tories accusing him of conflicts of interest as a result of some of the clients he represented during his 20-year career as a barrister. He was also criticised by those within Labour for supposedly blocking legislative progress.
David Lammy
As Sir Keir’s deputy prime minister, David Lammy was, unsurprisingly, closely bound up with the last government. He has now paid the price for it, becoming another casualty of Mr Burnham’s purge of Starmer loyalists.
Darren Jones
Likewise, Starmer ally Darren Jones confirmed on Monday afternoon that Mr Burnham had called to tell him he “won’t be a part of his new cabinet”.
Mr Jones’s sacking came as no surprise given he was closely linked to Sir Keir, and – as chief secretary to the prime minister – was so often sent out to defend the government’s mistakes.
Steve Reed
Housing secretary Steve Reed was one of the first to announce his plans to leave the government, taking a swipe at disloyalty in the Starmer administration.
“Keir Starmer showed me loyalty by appointing me to his Cabinet. I make no apology for returning that loyalty. It’s what is expected of functioning teams, and I hope those who did not show loyalty to Keir will now show it to you”, he said.
“I’m proud I acted with integrity at every step over the turbulent last few months.”
Peter Kyle
Peter Kyle, the former business secretary, is understood to have been sacked by Mr Burnham, leaving government on Monday. While he was loyal to the former prime minister, he was also seen as a strong performer in government, meaning his sacking came as somewhat of a surprise.
