Andy Burnham unveiled his cabinet on Monday, making significant changes and appointing key figures including John Healey, Shabana Mahmood, Louise Haigh, and Ed Miliband. This reshuffle follows a decisive purge of ministers aligned with former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, resulting in departures of David Lammy, Darren Jones, and Rachel Reeves, reports BritPanorama.
The new prime minister’s cabinet reflects a notable shift in composition, particularly regarding educational background and gender representation. Under Burnham, nine ministers attended privately funded schools compared to only two in Starmer’s last cabinet.
Gender representation has also changed markedly, with Burnham appointing a record number of women. In total, 12 out of 23 ministers are female, contrasting with 10 in Starmer’s final cabinet, marking the first instance of women outnumbering men in the cabinet.
In terms of diversity, three ministers of colour serve in Burnham’s cabinet, an increase from two under Starmer. However, this figure remains lower than those seen in earlier Conservative administrations.
Notably, the cabinet includes influential left-wing figures like Louise Haigh and Angela Rayner, both of whom have returned after previous controversies. Their presence is indicative of Burnham’s commitment to “distinctively Labour” values.
Experience levels also suggest a more seasoned cabinet; 19 out of Burnham’s team have prior cabinet experience, compared to 15 from Starmer’s. Furthermore, there is a greater representation of northern MPs, rising from 10 to 13 among the 27 eligible for cabinet meetings, demonstrating a geographical shift in the cabinet’s makeup.
As Burnham consolidates his leadership, the new cabinet’s blend of experience and representation may signal a strategic pivot aimed at energizing the party’s base and addressing regional inequalities within the UK.
