Briefing wars: how Labour ministers tried, and failed, to get into Burnham’s cabinet
Choice of John Healey for chancellor shocks insiders after weeks of fierce lobbying on behalf of party big hitters
For weeks, as ministers jostled, lobbied and positioned themselves for big jobs in an Andy Burnham government, the incoming prime minister remained sphinxlike. He told an interviewer on Monday that he had a black box containing his ministerial picks and major policy announcements, adding that even as he prepared to enter Downing Street: “The black box is still sealed.”
And so, when John Healey was appointed chancellor on Monday after intense briefing from allies of Ed Miliband, Shabana Mahmood and Rachel Reeves, it blindsided even those at the top of the Labour party. “We did not see this coming,” said one Labour MP. “But that is probably a sign that it is a good decision.”
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