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Andy Burnham has been preparing for the possibility of becoming prime minister for over a year, according to a close associate. Louise Haigh, who briefly held the position of transport secretary under Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership, has played a significant role in Burnham’s recent efforts. She revealed on the BBC’s Political Thinking with Nick Robinson that Burnham has been focused on this goal for some time, adding that the path to the prime ministership only became evidently feasible following Labour’s poor election performance in May. Haigh remarked, “it was obvious it couldn’t continue the way it was continuing.”
Currently, Burnham stands alone as the declared candidate to succeed Sir Keir Starmer as Labour leader. With nominations from Labour MPs now underway, Haigh is expected to be influential in any future government Burnham forms. As a prominent member of Labour’s “soft left,” the MP for Sheffield Heeley has engaged with Burnham and other senior Labour figures in confidential discussions with the civil service aimed at facilitating a smooth leadership transition. Haigh pointed out that Burnham’s ambitions for leadership date back years, noting his previous bids for the Labour leadership in 2010 and 2015. She firmly rejected claims that his lengthy tenure as Greater Manchester mayor left him unprepared, stating that he has spent that time deeply reflecting on the governance challenges facing the country and developing “very, very clear ideas and a plan to put that right.”
In terms of his approach to forming a cabinet, Haigh emphasized that Burnham is not bound by any deals or political compromises. “He can set out the agenda… and then build out the people from that,” she explained, adding that such an opportunity to shape government priorities first and then select personnel is “so so rare.” One major issue that any prospective Burnham government must confront is the welfare budget. A recent review of Personal Independence Payments (PIP) in England and Wales has described the disability benefit system as “not fit for purpose” and in need of comprehensive reform. Meanwhile, opposition factions, particularly the Conservatives, have urged cuts to the welfare budget to fund increased defense expenditures.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer previously attempted controversial welfare reforms intended to reduce spending by £5 billion annually but reversed course after a significant rebellion within his own party, with Haigh among those leading the opposition. She explained that while the welfare bill is “ballooning massively,” the particular cuts pursued would ultimately raise costs elsewhere in the system rather than offer a sustainable solution. Devolution of power features prominently in Burnham’s policy platform, with plans to shift more decision-making authority away from Westminster and potentially limit the Treasury’s influence. Haigh commented, “The Treasury is all-powerful and does exert, I think, too much power over other areas of public policy.” Still, she cautioned that attempting to significantly reform or dismantle the Treasury within a parliamentary term would likely prove too disruptive.
Haigh’s resignation from the government in November 2024 stemmed from revelations about a fraud conviction from a decade earlier. She had previously told police that her work mobile phone was stolen during a mugging in 2013, later admitting that the phone was never taken. The magistrates granted her a conditional discharge for the incident, which occurred before she entered Parliament. Haigh disclosed this past conviction to Sir Keir Starmer while Labour was still in opposition. She noted that although the Prime Minister was initially supportive when the story became public, his chief of staff subsequently requested her resignation. Reflecting on Sir Keir’s leadership since taking office, Haigh critiqued his approach as overly pessimistic. “We were elected on a mandate for change, and everyone was hopeful when we came in,” she said. “There was excitement and ambition for a changed country, and the government immediately turned around and said that wasn’t possible. We’ve just never been able to recover from that, no matter how many resets [Sir] Keir Starmer and the rest of the government attempted, it could never get itself out of that.”
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