Andy Burnham has appointed John Healey as his Chancellor – a surprise decision after Shabana Mahmood and Ed Miliband were both widely tipped as being in line for the job.
No 10 said that the new Prime Minister and Healey – who previously worked in the Treasury under Gordon Brown – “share the same outlook” on making the economy work better for working people.
Though details of Healey’s policy won’t emerge in full until his first Budget, likely in the autumn, there are indications of what the former defence secretary could prioritise in his new role.
Shorts
The now-Chancellor resigned from Sir Keir Starmer’s Cabinet last month in a row over defence spending, so it would be a surprise if the issue wasn’t near the top of his in-tray.
