In the wake of Keir Starmer‘s bombshell resignation as prime minister, the future of Chancellor Rachel Reeves‘ parliamentary role was called into question. On Wednesday (June 24), BBC Breakfast‘s chief political correspondent, Henry Zeffman, joined presenter Sally Nugent to discuss the prospect of No 10 hopeful Andy Burnham and his potential Cabinet, which could see Reeves replaced and offered a more junior position.

Henry stated: “There’s a lot of transition work with those around Andy Burnham, and we have essentially confirmation from sources close to Andy Burnham that Rachel Reeves would not remain in post as his Chancellor. “That’s not necessarily a massive surprise, but it is interesting that this is now being talked about so clearly.” The journalist added: “There is a suggestion from some close to Andy Burnham that Rachel Reeves would be offered a more junior position in Cabinet.”

Henry noted: “It’s pretty rare for a former Chancellor to move to a more junior Cabinet position. A spokesperson for Andy Burnham has told the BBC that no decisions have been made.

“One area where a decision has been made is on who would be Andy Burnham’s Chief of Staff, running his Downing Street, running his government. That would be James Purnell, who, like Andy Burham, was a Cabinet minister.

“In fact, in the last few years of the new Labour government, though, since then, he’s gone off and done other things, including working for several years as an executive at the BBC.”

Sir Keir Starmer announced he was resigning as Prime Minister just days after Burnham won the Makerfield by-election, allowing him to return to Parliament.