Starmer Allies Question Andy Burnham's Cabinet Reshuffle

Allies of Keir Starmer have questioned Andy Burnham’s pledge to end factional infighting after he removed or demoted more than half of the outgoing prime minister’s cabinet in his first reshuffle.

“This was a deeply factional cabinet reshuffle,” one said. “The idea it was anything else is ridiculous.”

Another former official said: “Becoming leader of a party involves having to promise things to a lot of different people, and you can see that in some appointments. What was surprising was the decision to get rid of so many impressive people.”

Others were more phlegmatic, saying it was obvious that a new PM would want to bring in his own people and that the change was handled sensitively, with outgoing ministers being called directly by Burnham.

Their special advisers – who usually go when their boss does – have also been given a chance to discuss their future with Alison Phillips, Burnham’s deputy chief of staff.

The overall mood for the outgoing team has tended to be more reflective than bitter, after they had a month to digest Starmer’s decision to stand down, paving the way for a Burnham succession.

Starmer joined Rachel Reeves, his former chancellor, and a series of outgoing No 10 officials at a north London pub on Monday evening. One person characterised the mood as “jovial, but with more than a hint of anger”.

Another source said the event was the culmination of a highly emotional period for a group of colleagues who were “a family, bonded through fire”. They added: “It feels really hard. But there is a sense of handing over the country in a better place.”

Several allies of Starmer have said that, while the reshuffle was inevitable, there was “more than a hint of retribution” in some of the sackings, as well as concern that ministers were targeted purely for having been loyal.

Some pointed to the treatment of Nick Thomas-Symonds, the sacked Cabinet Office minister, and Bridget Phillipson, who lost her education brief but remains equalities minister. Both were seen as quietly loyal and diligent.

In contrast, they said, the likes of Wes Streeting and John Healey, who undermined Starmer by resigning, were rewarded with senior posts.

One outgoing official said: “It’s less a purge of Starmerites than getting rid of people who were loyal to a Labour leader, while promoting people who were serially disloyal. That’s a dangerous message to send your MPs.”

Another source said: “It feels tough on people like Nick, who have always done things in a very grown-up way. The way it has been handled is not fantastic.”

Other concerns included a sense that more senior male No 10 staff than female staff had survived in the new regime. Just one of the four great offices of state is now held by a woman, down from three.

There is, nonetheless, an acceptance that politics is tough. As one source put it: “You sign up to this knowing it’s not a job for life, and that it will come to an end. But it’s still a privilege. Labour governments don’t come around very often.”