Andy Burnham has walked into 10 Downing Street as Britain’s new Prime Minister, unveiling a revamped Labour Cabinet to deliver his 10-year plan for the country., reports BritPanorama.
As the new Prime Minister reshuffles the frontbench, voters are looking closely at who is running the country alongside him.
John Healey has taken over from Rachel Reeves as Chancellor and Ed Miliband steps into the Foreign Office, but one major title appears to be missing – Deputy Prime Minister.
Is there a Deputy Prime Minister in Andy Burnham’s Cabinet?
Technically, no minister in Andy Burnham’s new Cabinet holds the official job title of “Deputy Prime Minister.”
The previous post-holder, David Lammy, was removed from office when Burnham took over from Sir Keir Starmer and cleared out key figures from the previous administration.
Former Deputy PM Angela Rayner has returned to Cabinet, but as Housing Secretary.
Instead of naming a formal Deputy Prime Minister, Burnham has appointed his long-time ally Louise Haigh as First Secretary of State.
In the British political system, First Secretary of State is the highest-ranking Cabinet post after the Prime Minister.
It outranks all other Secretaries of State and carries automatic seniority across Whitehall.
By pairing Haigh in this post with Lucy Powell’s role as Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, Burnham has established a clear hierarchy at No10 without needing to hand out a separate “Deputy PM” badge.
Who is Louise Haigh?
Louise Haigh is the MP for Sheffield Heeley and one of Andy Burnham’s most powerful political allies.
Haigh previously served as Transport Secretary under Starmer before resigning in late 2024 after pleading guilty to fraud by misrepresentation over a work mobile phone incident.
After returning to the backbenches, she became a key architect behind Burnham’s political comeback, managing his campaign in the Makerfield by-election and orchestrating his bid for the Labour leadership.
Alongside her title as First Secretary of State, Haigh has been appointed Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office.
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is one of Britain’s oldest ministerial roles.
Because the position does not oversee a single spending department like Health or Defence, the minister operates as a “minister without portfolio.”
This leaves Haigh free to manage the Cabinet Office, coordinate cross-government strategy, and resolve disputes between departments.
Under Burnham, Haigh’s department has been beefed up to act as the “political engine room” driving Downing Street’s economic and social policies.
As First Secretary of State and Cabinet Office chief, Haigh holds senior Cabinet rank and controls the day-to-day machinery of government, making her Burnham’s de facto second-in-command.
Does Burnham have to appoint a Deputy PM?
Andy Burnham is under no constitutional or legal obligation to name an official Deputy Prime Minister.
Under Britain’s unwritten constitution, the title of Deputy Prime Minister is discretionary.
It is a title a Prime Minister can choose to grant or leave empty.
Past leaders, including Margaret Thatcher, Tony Blair for parts of his tenure, and Theresa May, governed the country without ever naming an official Deputy PM.
Burnham could give the “Deputy Prime Minister” title to Haigh or another Cabinet minister during a future reshuffle.
However, because First Secretary of State already carries senior deputy status and allows the holder to stand in for the PM at PMQs or chair Cabinet meetings if required, Burnham may keep the current arrangement.
This development signals a strategic leadership approach, as Burnham consolidates authority while navigating the complexities of a diverse Cabinet. The absence of a designated Deputy Prime Minister illustrates a flexible interpretation of ministerial roles, potentially streamlining decision-making within the administration.
