Beauty parade for Burnham: Cabinet ministers desperately pitch for jobs as new PM 'plans to make them wait'

By JAMES TAPSFIELD, UK POLITICAL EDITOR Published: 09:18, 7 July 2026 | Updated: 09:27, 7 July 2026 A host of Labour big beasts are out pitching for jobs under Andy Burnham today as the Downing Street handover looms. At least eight current or former Cabinet ministers have high-profile appearances planned amid frantic jockeying for position. They include Ed Miliband - pushed by allies as the next Chancellor - Wes Streeting, Shabana Mahmood and Pat McFadden.  Business Secretary Peter Kyle, Health Secretary James Murray, Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds and Secretary of State to the PM Darren Jones also have engagements. Angela Rayner and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper were out and about yesterday.  However, the presumed new PM is expected to keep everyone guessing - with suggestions he will not announce any roles until he takes over from Keir Starmer. A host of Labour big beasts are out pitching for jobs under Andy Burnham today as the Downing Street handover looms Ed Miliband is due to answer questions in the House of Commons Wes Streeting, who considered running against Mr Burnham, is hosting an LBC show Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is hoping to stay in one of the Great Offices of State Mr Burnham must strike a tricky balance in drawing up his senior team, with warnings from female Labour MPs that there must be gender equality in the ministerial ranks. Mr Miliband has been heavily tipped to take charge of No11, despite alarm from business, unions and party moderates. But brother David is also in the frame for a shock comeback, potentially resuming his old role as Foreign Secretary. Some senior Labour colleagues are scathing about Ms Cooper's performance, with one telling the Daily Mail she has been 'useless'.  Critics have pointed out that would mean two of the four traditional great offices of state being occupied by Milibands, with only one – Home Secretary – available to be held by a woman. Another New Labour stalwart, Ed Balls, is rumoured to be returning, possibly running a commission rather than in Cabinet. Adding to the complexity, he is married to Ms Cooper. Mr Streeting will be hosting an LBC phone-in show this morning - in the same slot Ms Rayner occupied yesterday.  Mr McFadden has a big speech, while Mr Miliband is due to answer questions in the House of Commons.  Ms Mahmood, Mr Kyle and Ms Reynolds - regarded as a close ally of Mr Burnham - are all appearing before Parliamentary committees. Mr Murray took part in a Sky News special on maternity services this morning, while Mr Jones, a Starmer loyalist, is scheduled to speak at a Politico event this evening.    Ms Cooper penned a wide-ranging essay about the state of the world yesterday - including a striking warning that AI could be like 'Hiroshima'. In his only broadcast interview since Sir Keir's resignation, Mr Burnham told LBC last week that he was 'deliberately' not making decisions about jobs. The presumed new PM is expected to keep everyone guessing - with suggestions he will not announce any roles until he takes over from Keir Starmer (pictured) Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden is making a speech later 'Westminster goes into its normal mode and it wants to endlessly speculate about personalities before policy and before direction,' he said. 'I very deliberately have said ''no, I'm going to set out a new direction for the country''. 'I think it's really important that, firstly, people understand what is being proposed here, and then consider what their contribution to delivering that new direction would be.' However, Mr Burnham's stance appears to be causing some difficulties in preliminary talks with the civil service, as they typically involve the politicians who are going to take over specific departments.