Rachel Reeves and David Lammy have been sacked by Andy Burnham as the Prime Minister begins appointing his Cabinet.

It is rather dredging barrel scraping.

I did actually post a link to an interview by Nick Robinson of Louise Haigh a couple of weeks ago.
She goes fully into the whole story so listeners can see how they feel after.
It’s on I Player sounds, just enter the names into the sounds search bar. Hear her POV.

No, not a coup: there was far, far too much support from the very beginning: but of course, it was planned, how else could it have happened? Wes Streeting decided pretty early on. Great to see Yvonne Cooper where she is: competent…

and pretty good move …..tho my a surprise who our Chancellor is after the resignation! And he is def not a ‘lefty’

I don’t think she was putting a brave face on it, as I don’t think anybody who loves their partner would want them to be PM, the strain on them both must be immense, and it’s not a role the PMs partner chooses, they are thrust into it regardless. The last three PMs wives have all kept their own careers, much to their credit, and probably important for the sake of their sanity.

Tuliptree

Silvershadow

I don’t think Mrs Burnhams outfit should be criticised. I thought she looked anxious and not sure she wanted all the fuss. If she has had a mastectomy, as others claimed, then she should be left well alone. She’s not an MP, nor was Victoria Starmer who looked the happiest I’d seen her for a long time yesterday.

It’s not claimed - it’s an absolute fact that the Burnhams have talked about publicly. Her sister died at 39 from breast cancer, her mother and sister have been treated for it and as Mrs Burnham had inherited the relevant gene, she had a preventative double mastectomy. I’m not going to say anything further because it’s simply wrong to reduce her on any woman to her appearance.

In that case, she looked lovely in her dress. She’s not been elected so she should be left well alone. I don’t know anything about Kemi Badenochs husband, Ed Davey wife, or what they wear. Totally irrelevant.
I’m not a Labour voter so no axe to grind.

Silvershadow

MartavTaurus

Victoria Starmer ..... looked the happiest I’d seen her for a long time yesterday.
Too right!

She’s got her life back I suspect. Anonymity. No more of the poisoned chalice of being married to a prime minister.

Or was she just putting a good face on it? Either way they will now be able to concentrate on their family life.

Louise Haigh, a convicted fraudster, is being stripped of responsibility for tackling public sector fraud in her new Cabinet role.

Ms Haigh, the new Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, was appointed to Andy Burnham’s top team on Monday.

She admitted admitting to misleading police a decade ago.

As the minister in charge of the Cabinet Office, she inherited responsibility for the Public Sector Fraud Authority (PSFA) – the Government’s centre of expertise on scams involving public money.

Within hours of her taking office, that brief was handed to Pat McFadden, the Work and Pensions Secretary, instead.

It is unclear when the decision was made to shift responsibility for the PSFA. The Daily Telegraph today

What I will add is that she has two daughters so that must concern them all ( and the son of course)

I cannot get to grips with some of the snobby, nasty, vindictive comments by women on this thread!
I admire any woman who goes into Parliament and fights her corner! AR is a down to earth no nonsense , get on with it MP! I don’t care if she hasn’t got a degree ! She has worked her socks off! I got my degree at 37 after 15 years of teaching and no A levels! Did that make me a poor teacher? I bet some of you will have a go at me for admitting my lack of education despite getting a distinction at teacher training college .
As for Mr Burnham’s, wife she has her own life to lead and seemingly won’t be living at Number 10 ! I thought she looked lovely and they are a devoted family unit! They will do for me.

Silvershadow

I don’t think Mrs Burnhams outfit should be criticised. I thought she looked anxious and not sure she wanted all the fuss. If she has had a mastectomy, as others claimed, then she should be left well alone. She’s not an MP, nor was Victoria Starmer who looked the happiest I’d seen her for a long time yesterday.

It’s not claimed - it’s an absolute fact that the Burnhams have talked about publicly. Her sister died at 39 from breast cancer, her mother and sister have been treated for it and as Mrs Burnham had inherited the relevant gene, she had a preventative double mastectomy. I’m not going to say anything further because it’s simply wrong to reduce her on any woman to her appearance.

It’s a very, very small stick to beat him with Sunshinegirls. It was already out there, it’s not a new story at all. He chose to give her the benefit of the doubt, and you don’t. Fair enough, but it’s not going to damage him.

MartavTaurus

^Victoria Starmer ..... looked the happiest I’d seen her for a long time yesterday.^
Too right!

She’s got her life back I suspect. Anonymity. No more of the poisoned chalice of being married to a prime minister.

14:17Graphite

If it was an honest mistake why did she plead guilty then. She pleaded guilty to Fraud and she lost her job at Aviva. Yes some people do deserve a second chance and she was given one by Starmer but I assume she didn't tell him the full story and persumably he made her resign when the full facts came out. Louise Haigh and Andy Burnham were plotting it has been told for over a year to overthrow Starmer with which can only be described as a coup.

Victoria Starmer ..... looked the happiest I’d seen her for a long time yesterday.
Too right!

The last thing I'm bothered about is what people are wearing. If they get on with their jobs and do them well they can wear what they like within reason.

I don’t think Mrs Burnhams outfit should be criticised. I thought she looked anxious and not sure she wanted all the fuss. If she has had a mastectomy, as others claimed, then she should be left well alone. She’s not an MP, nor was Victoria Starmer who looked the happiest I’d seen her for a long time yesterday.

That was for Tuliptree

There isn’t a problem.

It stands to reason that Burnham's wife's dress would be mentioned on here, seeing as it has been picked up by nearly every newspaper and magazine in the land - The Times, The Telegraph, The Independent, the red tops, The Evening Standard, Elle, Grazia, Good Housekeeping etc. etc. Obviously Mrs. Burnham is more than just the clothes she wears, but this will be an ongoing narrative because even Starmer's wife's shoes were being commented on on her exit walk!

I always thought Victoria Beckham's current style dresses were designed for pencil thin figures, but interestingly they are available up to size 16 - not that I'm suggesting we all follow the latest silky trend! At least Burnham's wife didn't look like she was in her nightie.

By the way. Were Rachel Reeves and Victoria Starmer wearing the same dress? They looked very similar.
Don't bother to check, it's not important!

Oreo

Tuliptree

Oreo

And on the subject of dress, it looks like AB has now abandoned the Zelenski style black outfits and is back in a suit and tie.

Or just maybe, he’s able to differentiate between different occasions and what is suitable attire.

A suit and tie isn’t suitable attire for a Mayor? The black tee shirt man of the people look was the persona he chose to adopt for Manchester.
Yes, clothes do matter in that people will automatically judge you on appearance in public.We can’t all ‘get to know’ them on a personal level over time, like we can our friends and neighbours.

AB made choices about his sartorial attire whilst Mayor, he’s now making choices as PM. I’m puzzled as to what the problem is.

Tuliptree

Oreo

And on the subject of dress, it looks like AB has now abandoned the Zelenski style black outfits and is back in a suit and tie.

Or just maybe, he’s able to differentiate between different occasions and what is suitable attire.

A suit and tie isn’t suitable attire for a Mayor? The black tee shirt man of the people look was the persona he chose to adopt for Manchester.
Yes, clothes do matter in that people will automatically judge you on appearance in public.We can’t all ‘get to know’ them on a personal level over time, like we can our friends and neighbours.

skate

Angela Rayner revealed herself as a person without judgement when she used the words "Tory scum". No matter your opinion of the opposition, using language like that is unprofessional and unbecoming in a person aspiring to hold high office.

If using inappropriate language about political opponents disbarred you from holding high office, the H of C would be decimated.

Oreo

And on the subject of dress, it looks like AB has now abandoned the Zelenski style black outfits and is back in a suit and tie.

Or just maybe, he’s able to differentiate between different occasions and what is suitable attire.

Angela Rayner revealed herself as a person without judgement when she used the words "Tory scum". No matter your opinion of the opposition, using language like that is unprofessional and unbecoming in a person aspiring to hold high office.

fancythat Tue 21-Jul-26 13:53:00

This post seems to assume that anyone who disagrees must be lowering standards or acting out of political bias. But it's possible for people to agree that what Louise Haigh did was wrong while still disagreeing about whether it permanently disqualifies someone from holding office. Those are different questions. Calling every contrary view 'bias' risks shutting down legitimate debate.

Oreo

I have never read anything at all about AB’s wife GrandmaBatty I didn’t even know he was married, and neither will most people.
I will feel free to comment on the dress and fashion sense of anyone in the public eye, regardless of what anyone else chooses to think.

Well clearly you think it matters. Those of us who think it’s a form of misogyny are free to have that opinion. A woman is just slightly more than the clothes she wears

And on the subject of dress, it looks like AB has now abandoned the Zelenski style black outfits and is back in a suit and tie.