2.3.3 – The Prime Minister and the Cabinet
Now it is clear that Andy Burnham will be the next Prime Minister, speculation immediately moves to who he will appoint to be in his Cabinet. Unlike other systems, like that of the United States, the Cabinet is chosen by the Prime Minister alone. Members of the Cabinet do not need to be ratified by Parliament and are instead appointed under the royal prerogative powers.
Choosing a Cabinet is one of the most important jobs a Prime Minister has. There are a number of factors a Prime Minister has to consider when choosing a Cabinet:
They will need political allies in key positions
All Prime Ministers feel the need to place political allies in key positions. This guarantees them a supporting voice during difficult Cabinet discussions and gives them people within the Cabinet that they can implicitly trust.
For Burnham, this means he is likely to bring Louise Haigh back into Cabinet after she resigned under the Ministerial Code following admitting she had been convicted relating to a false claim that her phone had been stolen. In addition, it is likely that Heidi Alexander, the current Transport Secretary, will be given a key role. Notably, Alexander was reported to be the first Cabinet Minister to tell Starmer he should resign following Andy Burnham’s victory in Makerfield.
They need to represent wings of their party they are less in touch with
Whilst it may be tempting for Prime Ministers to pack their Cabinet with figures who share their political philosophy, it is important for Prime Ministers to show their party that their Cabinet reflects the make-up of the wider party.
Burnham is identified as being on the soft left of the party. He will, therefore, need to reach across to the Blairite centrist wing of the party. It is likely that Wes Streeting will be given a prominent role to signal to centrists that they will be well represented at the top of government.
They need to reflect the political realities of the time
Sometimes the wider political circumstances of the time place a significant burden on the Prime Minister in the selection of their Cabinet. There may be divisive issues that need to be carefully managed.
For Burnham, it will be the appointment of the Chancellor that will be under the most scrutiny. With huge pressure on the UK economy, Burnham cannot simply appoint an ally to the Treasury — he needs someone who is going to be credible to the bond markets. Speculation that Ed Miliband may be appointed Chancellor has already caused unease with some.
Some Cabinet Members may be appointed due to their vast experience
Prime Ministers will also want to ensure there are wise old heads in the Cabinet, particularly when they are inexperienced in governance. Prime Ministers need figures around them who have ‘institutional memory’ and can help put political situations in their historical context.
For Burnham, Yvette Cooper is likely to retain a senior position. She is seen as a ‘wise old head’ in the government. In addition, it is likely that Starmer ally Pat McFadden will be retained due to his years of experience of frontbench politics.
They need to keep political rivals close
As the saying goes, “keep your friends close, and your enemies even closer.” Prime Ministers may decide it is better to give their political rivals a key position where they have some control over them. Whilst in Cabinet, Ministers are constrained by collective responsibility and have to publicly support the Prime Minister.
The vast majority of senior government ministers have now publicly endorsed Burnham. Some who were tipped to potentially challenge Burnham, like Darren Jones, have dropped into line. With this decision, he is likely to be maintained in a senior Cabinet role.
Prime Ministers also need to consider the descriptive representation of their Cabinet
Increasingly, Prime Ministers need to consider the descriptive representation of their Cabinets. The public expects that their political leaders reflect the make-up of the nation.
Burnham will likely be looking to install more women in his government, as the party continues to face criticism for never having had a female leader. Angela Rayner, the former Deputy Prime Minister, Lucy Powell, the Deputy Labour Leader, Lisa Nandy, Miatta Fahnbulleh, and Anneliese Midgley are all figures who backed Burnham early and could be offered ministerial roles.