Rachel Reeves warns Andy Burnham to be prepared for government challenges
Rachel Reeves has warned Andy Burnham he needs to have a proper plan for government when he enters Downing Street in just over a week’s time, reports BritPanorama.
In what is likely to be her last interview as chancellor, she conceded her hopes of staying in the role were over and told the PM-in-waiting, “governing is hard in Britain.”
During an appearance on the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg programme, she stated, “It is important that when Andy walks through that door, that he has a worked through plan, because governing is hard in Britain, and lots of lots of challenges and shocks will come his way.”
She added, “What is really important is that him and his team are really clear about what they want to achieve. As those shocks come along, he needs to stay laser focused on those things that have always motivated him, have always driven him, and are the reason why he wants to lead our great country.”
Ms Reeves was among the hundreds of Labour MPs who nominated Mr Burnham to replace Sir Keir Starmer earlier this week, expressing her hope for his success in office.
However, her reference to “his team” suggests her previous calls to remain in her post have been ignored. In the same interview, Ms Reeves controversially refused to acknowledge whether her decision to strip the winter fuel allowance from millions of pensioners was a mistake, describing her emotional response in the Commons as her toughest moment in the role.
She defended Mr Burnham, stating that claims he had been preparing for life in Downing Street for at least a year were “perfectly reasonable.”
A close ally of Burnham, former cabinet minister Louise Haigh, remarked on a BBC podcast that Mr Burnham had been contemplating a bid for prime minister for “at least a year,” a comment that has raised tensions within Labour.
When asked about her colleagues plotting against her, Ms Reeves stated, “I think it is perfectly reasonable for people to have ambition, and Andy has never shied away from the fact that he wanted at some point to lead the Labour Party.”
She further supported his devolution agenda, arguing that “having more decision makers, both officials and ministers, based in the north of England and in different parts of the country, would be a good thing for policy making.”
Ms Reeves claimed Mr Burnham will inherit a “much stronger economy” due to her actions, although she conceded the public is “impatient for change.”
Shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride criticized her tenure, stating, “She was somebody who spoke about growth, growth, growth, but we’ve seen very anaemic growth since she’s been in.” He accused her of making the “wrong choices” regarding business taxation and borrowing, which he claims have led to increased unemployment and an unstable economy.
Mr Burnham is expected to assume the role of prime minister on Monday, July 20, having secured support from 322 Labour MPs thus far.
