Burnham has the overwhelming backing of MPs<\/a> but there is already huge jostling for position in his cabinet, which has been kept a closely guarded secret.<\/p>\n At the same time, Burnham\u2019s Downing Street operation is beginning to take shape, with many of Starmer\u2019s aides due to remain at the centre of government.<\/p>\n The incoming prime minister has now picked most of the senior No 10 jobs, according to those who have been involved in the process, and his cabinet is likely to be confirmed on Monday.<\/p>\n Burnham has promised to run a more collegiate and inclusive party for MPs, but parliamentarians have been told ahead of Friday that only a select few \u201coffice holders\u201d will be able to attend the special conference announcing his victory. Instead they have to apply to attend a later meeting on a first come, first served basis.<\/p>\n In his speech on Friday, Burnham will say Labour<\/a> must give people across Britain \u201cthe hope that we will make this country the best it can be\u201d.<\/p>\n He will argue that Britain took a series of wrong turns in the 1980s, when political power was centralised in Westminster and economic power was handed to private companies.<\/p>\n Burnham will make the case that the UK requires a \u201cnew path to the one we\u2019ve been on for the last 40 years\u201d.<\/p>\n In a move to address critics of Starmer\u2019s government for being insufficiently true to Labour\u2019s values, the new leader will promise an \u201cauthentically Labour\u201d programme of economic renewal, more public control, reindustrialisation and power back in the hands of local communities \u2013 without yet spelling out specific policies.<\/p>\n Burnham\u2019s new Downing Street team will oversee policy announcements next week, sources said, including new details of his policies on energy, water and the cost of living.<\/p>\n Many of those who advised Starmer have been asked to stay on, including Jonathan Powell, the national security adviser, Varun Chandra, the No 10 business adviser, and Graeme Cooke, who is being promoted to run the policy unit.<\/p>\n Several others have been brought in from the private sector. They include James Purnell, the former chief executive of the business advisory group Flint Global, who will be chief of staff, and Hayden Munro, who is being recruited from another lobbying group, Arden Strategies, to be political director.<\/p>\n Most have some kind of link to established Labour politics. The press team will be led by the former Sadiq Khan aide Sarah Brown, while Grace Pritchard, the former special adviser to Ed Miliband, will be the prime minister\u2019s spokesperson. The Guardian has learned that John Stevens, a former journalist, will remain in No 10 as press secretary.<\/p>\n Others, however, are coming from outside, including Matthew McGregor, who is joining from the campaign group 38 Degrees, as director of political strategy.<\/p>\n The Guardian has also been told that Alison Phillips, the former editor of the Mirror and chief executive of the thinktank ThinkLabour, will be made transition director, with a view to avoiding some of the early mistakes that befell Starmer.<\/p>\n A spokesperson said: \u201cHer priority will be to establish No 10 as an effective team that can deliver Andy\u2019s ambition to give Britain breathing space in the cost of living, deliver growth in every postcode and return power to communities. She has led large and complex organisations, delivering results and overseeing cultural change.\u201d<\/p>\n skip past newsletter promotion<\/a>Free newsletter | Every day<\/p>\n Sign up to Headlines UK<\/p>\n Get the day\u2019s headlines and highlights emailed direct to you every morning<\/p>\n after newsletter promotion<\/p>\n Labour insiders said Burnham is keen to provide stability to the No 10 operation after the turbulence of his Makerfield campaign and Starmer\u2019s decision to leave office.<\/p>\n Business groups, which have complained<\/a> about not having anyone to talk to inside the incoming prime minister\u2019s team, were delighted that Chandra was to remain in place.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1782332000_529_500.jpg\")
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