Andy Burnham is set to unveil his Cabinet on Monday after taking over as Prime Minister.
As the PM-in-waiting finalises his Cabinet picks, Westminster has been awash with rumours about who is in and who is out.
One of the most unusual reports was one that said ex-Health Secretary Wes Streeting was spotted crying in the lift down from where Mr Burnham’s office is located in Parliament.
Ilford North MP Mr Streeting responded on X: “Of all the bizarre speculation I’ve read in recent days, this is the best.
“I wasn’t even present, let alone involved.”
Wes Streeting who resigned from Sir Keir Starmer’s government
AFP/Getty
He then jested: “Hope my doppelgänger is ok though.”
The former Greater Manchester Mayor is expected to promote more MPs from the North West and other regions to key posts.
So some London MPs are likely to be facing demotion or sideways moves.
But other MPs from the capital could still be given top jobs.
So Mr Burnham has some tough choices to make and who ends up in what job is very hard to call.
But here are the potential prospects facing senior London MPs:
Health Secretary James Murray
Health Secretary James Murray
PA
Ealing North MP Mr Murray looks the most at risk of losing his Cabinet post among the London MPs, mainly because he has only been Health Secretary for a matter of months so has had little time to prove himself.
He can point to resident doctors (previously known as junior doctors) ending their strike action as one significant success. Also in his favour, if Mr Burnham wants to depoliticise the NHS, Mr Murray is an ideal Health Secretary.
But politics so often comes down to a numbers’ game and with Mr Burnham having so few posts to dish out, Mr Murray appears vulnerable.
Quietly-spoken, he would also not be expected to cause trouble if he was demoted or even moved to the backbenches.
Communities Secretary Steve Reed
Communities Secretary Steve Reed
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Union chiefs believe he may move a chunk of Mr Reed’s Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to the North.
Former Lambeth Council leader Mr Reed, now MP for Streatham and Croydon North, is one of the Government’s best communicators.
But it would be odd if Mr Burnham decided that the best person to drive his devolution revolution is a London MP.
Former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, his predecessor in the communities department, would be expected to be among the frontrunners for the post but this does not appear to be a slam dunk.
Justice Secretary David Lammy
Justice Secretary David Lammy
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Mr Lammy played a key role in Sir Keir Starmer’s campaign to be Labour leader in 2020 and has been an uber-loyalist to the Prime Minister.
So if Mr Burnham wants to deliver change from the Starmer “ancien regime,” Tottenham MP Mr Lammy is likely to be among the key figures he could move.
But if Mr Burnham axed him, his Government would lose an important conduit into the Trump administration.
Deputy Prime Minister Mr Lammy has developed a close working relationship with Vice President JD Vance and, when dealing with a highly unpredictable president, being able to pick up the phone to his deputy to try to work out and influence the latest mayhem unleashed by Trump is a significant strength.
Former Health Secretary Wes Streeting
Former Health Secretary Wes Streeting
PA Wire
He has been touted as a possible Chancellor.
But Mr Streeting, on the Right of Labour, is not on the same political page as Mr Burnham, on the party’s Left.
So it would be a gamble if Mr Burnham put him at the helm of the Treasury.
Mr Burnham lived through the TB-GBs, the endless, draining and damaging feud during the New Labour years between Tony Blair and Gordon Brown.
Moving Mr Streeting back to complete the reforms he started as Health Secretary would make the most sense. But politics often does not follow sense.
Former communities minister Miatta Fahnbulleh
Peckham MP Miatta Fahnbulleh resigned as communities minister and called on Sir Keir Starmer to set out a timetable to stand down
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Peckham MP Ms Fahnbulleh is one of Labour’s rising stars and is a key Burnham ally.
She was the first junior minister to resign from Sir Keir’s government in May as he battled for survival.
She stressed: “Whilst progress has been made, we have not acted with the vision, pace and ambition that our mandate for change demands of us.
“Nor have we governed as a Labour Party clear about our values and strong in our convictions.”
The former chief executive of the New Economics Foundation is believed to have been working on a policy blueprint for Mr Burnham and has told how central Government under his plans will be “far smaller” and strategic.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander
PA Wire
Ms Alexander is one of just four MPs left in Parliament who voted for Mr Burnham in his first bid to be Labour leader, back in 2010.
The former MP for Lewisham East and ex-Deputy Mayor for Transport in London also supported him in his second attempt in 2015.
Now Transport Secretary and MP for Swindon South she was among the first Cabinet ministers who urged Sir Keir to set out a timetable for his departure from No10.
So, it is likely that she will retain a senior job in Government.
Mr Burnham has faced a particularly challenging decision in choosing his Chancellor.
Former Transport Secretary Louise Haigh (MP for Sheffield Heeley), Labour Deputy Leader Lucy Powell (Manchester Central), Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy (Wigan) and Knowsley MP Anneliese Midgley are all expected to get key roles.
Starmer loyalist Darren Jones may well lose his job as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, with Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds and Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn also possibly facing demotion or leaving voluntarily.
