BBC Breakfast stopped for major breaking news – and it’s more chaos for Rachel Reeves

BBC Breakfast’s chief political correspondent Henry Zeffman has shared an update on the future of Chancellor Rachel Reeves, with sources close to Andy Burnham suggesting she would not remain as Chancellor under his potential Labour leadership

Following Keir Starmer’s shocking resignation as prime minister, questions have emerged over Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ future parliamentary position. This morning, BBC Breakfast’s chief political correspondent, Henry Zeffman, appeared alongside presenter Sally Nugent to examine the prospects for No 10 contender Andy Burnham and his potential Cabinet, which might result in Reeves being ousted and given a lesser role.

Henry revealed: “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 continued: “There is a suggestion from some close to Andy Burnham that Rachel Reeves would be offered a more junior position in Cabinet.”

Henry observed: “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. “

Purnell also held a ministerial role in Gordon Brown’s Government between 2007 and 2009. Starmer revealed his resignation as Prime Minister just days after Burnham clinched the Makerfield by-election, paving the way for his return to Parliament.

Burnham is currently the sole candidate to have surfaced as a contender for the Labour leadership. If he doesn’t face an opponent, he could ascend to the role of prime minister as early as 17 July.. This follows former Royal Marines officer Al Carns telling BBC Newsnight that he was still contemplating entering a potential contest but was awaiting Burnham’s policy plans to “push forward”.

“We need to see that material before I can make a decision to back him,” he further stated. The party’s rulebook stipulates that candidates must be nominated by 81 Labour MPs, as well as either 32 of Labour’s 634 local branches, or three organisations affiliated with the party, including two trade unions.

In his resignation speech, Starmer pledged: “I will ask the National Executive Committee of the Labour Party to set out a timetable with nominations opening on the 9th of July and completed by the summer recess. In the case of a contest, this will ensure a new leader is in place before Parliament returns in September, reports the Express.

“I will remain in post as prime minister until the contest is complete. And I will do everything I can to ensure an orderly handover of power.

The PM also vowed: “I will also give my successor my full and unequivocal support, knowing that they will inherit a Britain that is far stronger and fairer than the one I inherited two years ago, better prepared for the challenges ahead, and better able to ensure the Labour Party secures a second term in office. “.