The Chancellor appeared on BBC Breakfast to give her thoughts on the Makerfield MP.
Rachel Reeves has warned Andy Burnham he must control public finances if he takes the helm of the Labour Party and becomes Prime Minister in the wake of Keir Starmer’s tearful resignation on Monday June 22. Speaking to Business Reporter Peter Ruddick ina clip aired on BBC Breakfast, the current Chancellor of the Exchequer, said she supports the Makerfield MP, saying she thought he would “be a great Prime Minister”. However, she added a cautionary warning, saying: “The last government lost control of the public finances, it sent inflation through the roof and interest rates through the roof. And so control of the public finances has a real impact on families today,” she said.
Reeves is widely expected to lose her role if Burham takes the top job, and reflecting on her own efforts, she said she had pride in what she had achieved, ” I’m sure I could have done some things better, but [I’m] really proud of my record, and I know that whoever is Prime Minister and Chancellor in the future will inherit a stronger economy than the one I inherited two years ago,”
Downing Street has said no “major” new policy decisions or spending pledges would be made in the coming weeks.
Burnham is reportedly set to remove Reeves as Chancellor if he becomes PM. Sources close to him said he would offer her an alternative Cabinet role.
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, former health secretary Wes Streeting, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood have been tipped as potential candidates to replace her in 11 Downing Street.
An ally of Ms Reeves told the Financial Times: “Rachel would like to be Chancellor, but ultimately she wants to serve in a Labour Government.”
Rachel Reeves spoke to BBC Business Reporter Peter Ruddick (Image: BBC)
Burnham is also receiving Government briefings to prepare for power, after Sir Keir authorised Civil Service access talks to begin for “prospective candidates” for the Labour leadership.
The Prime Minister told his Cabinet he wanted an “orderly transition” and insisted he would try to make the process “as easy as possible” for his successor.
The former Greater Manchester mayor will begin to set out his policy platform by pledging economic growth and committing himself to Labour’s existing fiscal rules in a speech next week.
Burnham, who has returned to Parliament after winning the Makerfield by-election, could enter No 10 within weeks if no one else runs in the Labour leadership race.
