Burnham to say his government will be ‘unashamedly Labour’ in first speech as party leader – UK politics live

During the speech, Burnham said he will announce his cabinet on Monday and defended waiting until he enters Downing Street to announce his choices, saying doing so earlier would cause “chaos”.

Asked why he had not yet decided who to appoint to his top team, he said:

double quotation mark Because you do that when you do take over. You make those decisions, and it would be somewhat premature and would I think cause complete chaos if you start half a reshuffle before you’re in the position.

Asked if knew in his own mind who his chancellor would be, he said:

double quotation mark I am finalising those decisions, and I will come to conclusions very shortly, and then I will announce those on Monday.

So that’s the normal way. You know, people want everything earlier these days, and there’s lots of speculation, but that’s the orderly way to do it, and I have done it I believe in the right way.

I’m not in the job yet, but when I am, I will do it in the proper way.