Labour big beasts on parade for jobs under Burnham: 'At-risk' Yvette Cooper warns AI could be like 'Hiroshima' as Angela Rayner pushes for comeback

By JAMES TAPSFIELD, UK POLITICAL EDITOR Published: 09:48, 6 July 2026 | Updated: 09:55, 6 July 2026 Labour big beasts are stepping up the scramble for jobs under Andy Burnham - with the new PM on track for power in a fortnight. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has penned a wide-ranging essay about the state of the world - including a striking warning that AI could be like 'Hiroshima' - amid rumours her role is at risk. Meanwhile, Angela Rayner is set to host a show on LBC in the latest of a series of interventions as she pushes for a Cabinet comeback. Mr Burnham has insisted he will not announce any Government posts until he is confirmed in Downing Street, due to happen on July 20 as long as he remains the sole Labour leadership candidate. But that appears to be causing some difficulties in preliminary talks with the civil service, as they typically involve politicians who are going to take over specific departments. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has penned a wide-ranging essay about the state of the world. Pictured playing cricket with members of the Afghan Refugee Women's Cricket Team at the Foreign Office last week Andy Burnham has insisted he will not announce any Government posts until he is confirmed in Downing Street Angela Rayner is set to host a show on LBC in the latest of a series of interventions as she pushes for a Cabinet comeback There are also concerns about Mr Burnham's lack of fixed policies, with vague hints at 'Manchesterism', a devolution drive and possible tax hikes.   The former Greater Manchester Mayor is facing a tightrope act in drawing up his senior team, with warnings from female Labour MPs that there must be gender equality in the ministerial ranks. Ed Miliband has been heavily tipped to take charge of No11, despite alarm from business, unions and party moderates. But his 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'.  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.    But one senior party insider told the Daily Mail that Mr Burnham would be taking big risks, with women Labour MPs already demanding that half of ministers are female.  'Sooner or later the ladies of the Parliamentary Labour Party are going to get annoyed if all Andy does is bring back the old boys,' they added. Ms Rayner, who was Keir Starmer's deputy until she quit over unpaid stamp duty, is thought to be pushing for her old housing and devolution brief back. In an essay for the Chatham House international affairs think-tank, Ms Cooper talked up her commitment to AI safety. 'On nuclear, international agreement came only after the world saw the terrifying power of the new technology at Hiroshima – and asked what would happen if it fell into the wrong hands,' she wrote. 'We cannot afford to wait for an AI equivalent of Hiroshima before we act.' David Miliband quit UK politics after losing the 2010 Labour leadership election to his younger brother Ed.  He is currently head of New York-based aid agency the International Rescue Committee, earning £1million a year.  The older Miliband pointedly refused to rule out a Cabinet return when he was asked directly recently, merely saying Mr Burnham would 'make his own choices'. He is due to make a speech in the UK later this week.  Ed Miliband has been heavily tipped to take charge of No11, despite alarm from business, unions and party moderates Ed Balls, Mr Burnham's long-term striking partner in the notorious Labour 'Demon Eyes' football team, is also rumoured for a comeback (pictured playing together at the 2011 Labour Party conference) Mr Burnham has been forced to distance himself from a much-mocked briefing that he will be Labour's first woman premier. A senior figure had told the Spectator that he would be 'a female PM in all but sex'.  But Mr Burnham told a meeting of Parliamentary Labour Party women: 'I want to put on record that I never have and never will describe myself as the first female Labour PM.' He added: 'I want to make it clear that if anyone in my team was found to have done that they would be out of the door. Their feet wouldn't touch the floor.' The comments below have not been moderated. 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