𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Rachel Reeves has confirmed Andy Burnham has sacked her as Chancellor and wished her successor “the very best of luck”. Ms Reeves wrote in a post on X: “It has been the privilege of my life to serve as the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

“The economy today is stronger, fairer and more resilient because of the choices we have taken as a Labour Government over the past two years. Stability restored, investment delivered and reform to our economy under way.”

She added: “I said when I was appointed Chancellor that I would judge my time in office if the lives ordinary working class people have been improved. I’m proud to say that they have.

“And to every young woman and girl, let my time in office show there should be no ceilings on your ambitions, your hopes or your dreams.

“I wish the very best of luck to my successor, Andy and his Cabinet. You have my full support and I will continue to play my part in helping this Labour Government deliver the change the country needs.”

Mr Burnham also sacked deputy prime minister and foreign secretary David Lammy and environment and housing secretary Steve Reed from Cabinet on his first day as Prime Minister.

It follows weeks of speculation about Mr Burnham’s ministerial appointments, with Ms Reeves, whose record as Chancellor was closely tied to Sir Keir Starmer, widely expected to be given the boot.

The former Manchester Mayor said on Friday that he had not yet decided who would be in his top team because “it would be somewhat premature” and “cause complete chaos” to “start half a reshuffle before you’re in the position”.

Energy secretary Ed Miliband and home secretary Shabana Mahmood are among the top contenders to replace Ms Reeves.

Speaking last week, Mr Burnham said he would announce the new appointments on Monday.

“You know, people want everything earlier these days, and there’s lots of speculation, but that’s the orderly way to do it, and I have done it I believe in the right way,” he told journalists during a visit to Gravesend in Kent.

“I’m not in the job yet, but when I am, I will do it in the proper way.”

In his first speech as PM this morning, Mr Burnham promised to win over voters “fed up with politics” and show the world that the UK can once again be a source of stability.

He also pledged to set out a ten-year plan later this year, and, starting on Tuesday, measures to address the cost-of-living crisis and give people “breathing space now”.