Reeves Tells Burnham to Have a Plan Ready; Stride Comments on Growth Record

Rachel Reeves told Andy Burnham he must enter Downing Street with a worked-through plan because governing is hard in Britain and shocks will come his way. The outgoing chancellor made the remarks during an appearance on the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg programme. She said Burnham and his team need to stay laser focused on the goals that motivated him to lead the country.

Reeves was one of hundreds of Labour MPs who nominated Burnham to replace Sir Keir Starmer earlier this week. Reeves refused to describe her decision to strip the winter fuel allowance from millions of pensioners as a mistake. She also said her crying in the Commons had been her toughest moment in the job.

She defended Burnham against criticism that he had prepared for Downing Street for at least a year, calling such ambition perfectly reasonable. Former cabinet minister Louise Haigh had said on a BBC podcast that Burnham had been planning a leadership bid for at least a year.

Reeves backed Burnham’s devolution agenda, saying more decision makers based in the north of England and other regions would improve policy making.

She insisted he would inherit a much stronger economy because of her actions, while acknowledging the public was impatient for change. Shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride said Reeves spoke about growth but delivered very anaemic growth, the highest unemployment level in five years, and massive youth unemployment.

Burnham is expected to become prime minister on Monday, July 20, after securing the backing of 322 Labour MPs.