Louise Haigh was pictured turning up for work today after she was left as the most senior Government minister in the UK after Andy Burnham jetted abroad for a holiday.The 39-year-old, who is Mr Burnham's de facto deputy in her role as First Secretary of State, was photographed going about her duties in Whitehall in the Prime Minister's absence.Mr Burnham, who entered No10 little more than two weeks ago on 20 July, is taking a break from Westminster for a long-planned foreign trip with his family.He is not expected to appear publicly this week, but Downing Street insisted he will still be working and is prepared to travel back to the UK if required.Reform UK has accused Mr Burnham of 'bunking off' after just a fortnight in power, while even Labour insiders questioned the PM's decision to go away.Ms Haigh - known as 'Red Lou' - is expected to be working this week as normal, but No10 insisted she will not be taking day-to-day decisions in Mr Burnham's absence. She was seen entering the Cabinet Office on Tuesday in a grey trouser suit, a light-coloured sleeveless top, and a pair of scuffed-up white Adidas trainers.Mr Burnham appointed the convicted fraudster to her powerful role, as well as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, after she masterminded his victory in the Makerfield by-election in June. Louise Haigh was pictured turning up for work after she was left as the most senior Government minister in the UK after Andy Burnham jetted abroad for a holiday The 39-year-old, who is Mr Burnham's de facto deputy in her role as First Secretary of State, was photographed going about her duties in Whitehall in the Prime Minister's absenceMs Haigh's position in the higher echelon of Mr Burnham's administration comes less than two years after she was forced to resign from former PM Keir Starmer's Cabinet.This followed the revelation she had been convicted of fraud during her twenties, with Ms Haigh quitting after just four months as transport secretary under Sir Keir.But Mr Burnham's takeover afforded her a route back to the Cabinet table, with Ms Haigh having been a key power broker behind Mr Burnham's ousting of Sir Keir.As well as heading Mr Burnham's Makerfield by-election campaign and steering his subsequent leadership bid, Ms Haigh is also reported to have interviewed candidates for senior positions in Mr Burnham's Cabinet in a highly unusual move.She is the first woman to serve as First Secretary of State - a title that indicates seniority over all other secretaries of state - since Labour's Barbara Castle in the late 1960s.More recent holders of the title were senior Tories Dominic Raab, Damian Green, George Osborne, William Hague, as well as Peter Mandelson and John Prescott in the last Labour government.Earlier on Tuesday, one of Ms Haigh's Cabinet colleagues defended Mr Burnham for taking a holiday after just two weeks as PM.Alex Norris, the Justice Secretary, backed Mr Burnham over his decision to take a holiday and insisted the PM would be 'in constant contact' with his office.'The Prime Minister is having a few days away with his family,' he told Sky News. 'You know, he will be in constant contact with his office.''I mean, I might gently say that I've spoken to him virtually every day since I joined the Cabinet, and I suspect that won't change.'These last couple of weeks I'm really proud of the work we've been doing on the cost of living, on social care, on homelessness, on defence. And that work is happening at pace and will continue to do so.'