With just weeks until he is set to waltz into No. 10, Andy Burnham has been quick out of the blocks, meeting contenders for his future Cabinet.
The frontrunners to replace Rachel Reeves are an already well-known trio: Ed Miliband (God forbid), Wes Streeting and Shabana Mahmood. Louise Haigh and Angela Rayner are set to make comebacks to the top table and, of course, James Purnell is expected to be named chief of staff.
Now Mr S can reveal that an unexpected name has been thrown into the mix. Dr Zubir Ahmed has been in talks with Burnham’s team about the possibility of taking up the role of Health Secretary.
Ahmed is a transplant surgeon who served as Health Innovation and Safety Minister, was involved securing the US pharma deal and also regularly deputised for Wes Streeting in the department and internationally, including with President Emmanuel Macron.
Ahmed resigned as a minister in May with the intention of backing Streeting for the leadership. While the move clearly backfired at first, he could now end up being rewarded with an even bigger prize for standing down. Mr S understands the surgeon has met Burnham’s inner circle and presented them with endorsements from the upper echelons of the NHS for him to become the first doctor to serve as Health Secretary.
Were he to land the job, it would be a major blow for poor James Murray, who took up the post after Streeting resigned in an act of loyalty to Sir Keir Starmer. He has since – unsurprisingly – offered his wholehearted endorsement to the MP for Makerfield.
A source close to Burnham refused to comment on who the incoming Prime Minister has held talks with, but insisted: ‘No jobs offered and no deals made’.
With weeks to go until the next Prime Minister is formally confirmed, expect the haggling to continue at pace. What fun!
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