Prime Minister Andy Burnham has appointed Louise Haigh as First Secretary of State, placing her in the most senior Cabinet role after the premiership.
The appointment marks one of the most significant decisions in Burnham’s newly formed government following a broad reshuffle that removed several ministers associated with former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
Alongside her new position as First Secretary of State, Haigh will also serve as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, giving her a central role in coordinating government business and supporting the Prime Minister across Whitehall.
Major Cabinet Overhaul Signals New Political Direction
The reshuffle represents a decisive break from the previous administration, with several high-profile figures leaving government.
Among the most notable departures was David Lammy, who lost his position as Justice Secretary to Alex Norris.
Burnham also chose not to appoint a Deputy Prime Minister.
Instead, the responsibilities traditionally associated with that office are expected to fall largely to Haigh through her position as First Secretary of State, including deputising for the Prime Minister during key parliamentary duties such as Prime Minister’s Questions when necessary.
Rapid Political Rise Despite Earlier Setback
Haigh, the Member of Parliament for Sheffield Heeley since 2015, has long been regarded as one of Burnham’s closest political allies.
Her national profile grew significantly after Labour’s 2024 general election victory, when Sir Keir Starmer selected her as Transport Secretary.
At 36, she became the youngest woman ever appointed to the Cabinet.
However, her ministerial career was interrupted after she resigned four months into the role following renewed attention on a fraud conviction dating back to her twenties.
The case stemmed from a 2013 incident in which she reported to police that her work phone had been stolen during a mugging.
Subsequent investigations found that account to be inaccurate, leading to her guilty plea in 2014 for fraud by false representation.
She received a conditional discharge.
In her resignation letter, Haigh maintained that she had genuinely believed her phone had been stolen after being mugged during a night out but concluded that the controversy risked distracting the government from its priorities.
Trusted Ally Behind Burnham’s Leadership Campaign
Before joining Burnham’s Cabinet, Haigh established herself as an influential figure within Labour’s parliamentary ranks.
She played a prominent role in organising opposition to proposed welfare reforms under Sir Keir Starmer, helping rally MPs against the measures and contributing to the government’s eventual retreat on the issue.
Associated with Labour’s “soft left,” Haigh consistently argued against policies she viewed as shifting the party too far to the right.
As Burnham’s leadership ambitions gathered momentum, she became one of his closest political organisers and was heavily involved in managing his successful Makerfield by-election campaign.
Earlier this month, she publicly acknowledged that Burnham’s bid for the country’s top political office had been in preparation for at least a year, noting that his leadership ambitions had been well established long before the campaign officially began.
Economic Vision Reflects Burnham’s Reform Agenda
Haigh has also emerged as one of the leading advocates for Burnham’s proposed economic programme.
In essays published before the Makerfield campaign, she argued that Labour should reconsider its fiscal framework by relaxing existing debt rules and reassessing the Bank of England’s mandate to place greater emphasis on economic growth.
She has also endorsed Burnham’s proposal to replace stamp duty with a tax based on land value, describing Britain’s current economic model as unsustainable and calling for structural reforms rather than incremental change.
Her appointment to one of the government’s most influential positions suggests she will play a central role in shaping the administration’s economic strategy and wider policy agenda as Burnham begins implementing his programme in office.
