If all goes to plan, Andy Burnham will become Britain’s new prime minister on Monday, and speculation over his new cabinet has begun in earnest — though Burnham says he has not yet made final decisions. Asked why he was not yet announcing his cabinet, the new Labour leader said: “If you start reshuffling the cabinet before you’ve taken office, it would be a bit premature, and I think it would create a completely chaotic situation.”
Though Burnham has not decided, there is much speculation over who will be in his cabinet, with Edward Miliband and Shabana Mahmood seen as front-runners to succeed Rachel Reeves as chancellor. In a speech after being elected leader, the former Greater Manchester mayor set out his government’s outline, including plans to reform social care and other policy changes. On this, UK right-wing politician Nigel Farage said Burnham was coming to power “without any mandate,” calling on the prime minister-in-waiting to hold “an immediate general election to decide the country’s future.” Liberal Democrat leader Edward Davey welcomed Burnham as the new prime minister and urged him to build a more cooperative political environment, saying: “My door is open.” Davey said the Liberal Democrats especially wanted reform of the water sector, more support for the NHS and changes to social care, including more support for family carers.
Burnham returned to parliament a month ago with a big by-election win, and strengthened his position this week as the sole leadership candidate with the backing of Labour’s 379 MPs and 11 affiliated trade unions. Under the plan, current Prime Minister Keir Starmer will submit his resignation to King Charles III on Monday, after which the king will invite Burnham to form a government; he will accept and take office as prime minister, beginning at 10 Downing Street with a new cabinet. Asked who would be in his cabinet, Burnham said: “I am finalising these decisions. I’ll reach final decisions very soon and announce them on Monday.”
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report