Rachel Reeves emphasised she knew Burnham for more than 15 years before she became an MP in 2010.
Rachel Reeves said she has backed Andy Burnham to become Prime Minister (Image: X.com/GB News)
GB News was interrupted for breaking news as Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced that she is now backing Andy Burnham to become the next Prime Minister. Broadcasters Stephen Dixon and Ellie Costello discussed whether Ed Miliband could become the next Chancellor. Describing Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves “joined at the hip”, Dixon said that it is clear that the Chancellor is “trying to keep her own job by now backing Burnham”.
In an interview with GB News, Reeves defiantly said: “I am backing Andy Burnham to be our next Prime Minister. I’ve known Andy for 16, 17 years now. He’s a good friend of mine, but any choices for the new Prime Minister will be their choices to make, including who’s in the cabinet.”
Andy Burnham (Image: Getty)
The reporter asked if Reeves would accept any other job in the new cabinet, she replied that it would be the new PM’s prerogative to make the appointments, and she hoped that it would be Andy Burnham.
Before the end of the interview, Reeves added: “But I’m really proud of my record as a Chancellor and I know, whoever is Prime Minister, whoever is Chancellor in a few weeks will inherit a stronger economy than the one I inherited two years ago when I became the Chancellor.
“There is a huge black hole in the public finances, the deficit was out of control, inflation got into double digits, our growth was too weak, and living standards actually went back. In the last Parliament, however, it had begun to turn that around. Is there more to do? Absolutely. But I am proud, as Chancellor, we are turning the economy around.”
However, viewers criticised her work and contribution as a Chancellor, branding her “useless”, “desperate”, and “delusional”. One said, “She stuttered her way through her speech; she is a goner.”
A second commented: “Rachel Reeves needs to be sacked, shocking what she has done to the hospitality sector and retail, shame on her.”
A third mocked: “So she really doesn’t want her job anymore, thank God for that.”
Speculation is high that Burnham could pick Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, who is leading Labour’s net zero push for the Treasury. But some within Labour have cautioned against appointing Miliband.
Other potential names include ex-health secretary Wes Streeting, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper.
