Burnham appoints Bridget Phillipson as Labour chair in reshuffle aftermath
Just over a week after taking office, Prime Minister Andy Burnham has appointed former education secretary Bridget Phillipson as chair of the Labour Party, a move widely seen as an attempt to stabilise internal party relations following last week’s sweeping cabinet reshuffle. Phillipson, who was sacked as education secretary and replaced by key Burnham ally Lucy Powell, will take on the influential role previously held by Labour figures such as Harriet Harman, Angela Rayner and Tom Watson.
Burnham described Phillipson as someone who will “play a vital role in ensuring the Labour party is match fit for the next election”. The prime minister said she will work alongside him and Powell to drive culture change. Phillipson retains her cabinet position as women and equalities minister, the first time that portfolio has been granted full cabinet status.
A rare survivor in a turbulent week
Phillipson’s appointment comes after a major reshuffle in which dozens of cabinet ministers—including several loyal to former leader Keir Starmer—were removed. While Phillipson was demoted from education, her continued presence in the cabinet is being interpreted as an olive branch to the previous government’s supporters. Critics of her Send (special educational needs and disabilities) overhaul had raised concerns, but she won plaudits from Labour MPs for her engagement on the issue.
“She will put Labour values and the voices of our movement at the heart of government,” Phillipson said. “By uniting together, we will bring hope back to communities and strengthen British society against those working to divide us.”
Labour overtakes Reform in voter poll for the first time since March 2025
Coinciding with the reshuffle, the nonprofit pollster More in Common released its weekly tracker showing Labour at 28%, up four points, while Reform UK fell to 24% (down two points). The Greens dropped three points to 8%, the Conservatives remained at 22%, and the Liberal Democrats edged up to 12%. This is the first time since March 2025 that Labour has led Reform in this particular survey.
Luke Tryl, UK director at More in Common, said: “After a jam-packed week of high-profile policy announcements and media appearances, the Labour party has surged in our weekly poll. With all the caveats that it’s just one poll, Labour now leads for the first time since March of last year, and holds their highest vote share since the early months of this government in 2024.”
Burnham’s cost-of-living focus appears to resonate
The prime minister’s early emphasis on the cost of living has apparently drawn back voters who had drifted to Reform and the Greens. Burnham himself said he would not get “carried away” but acknowledged being pleased to have “connected with people”. He has promised to address youth unemployment, social care and housing in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, Reform UK has faced weeks of negative headlines concerning undeclared gifts and donations, an adviser with a fraud conviction, and a chaotic byelection campaign in Clacton, where Nigel Farage is seeking a Commons seat. Pollster Michael Ashcroft’s focus groups in Clacton have highlighted growing anger among voters toward Reform.
Broader implications: a new chapter for Labour or familiar patterns?
Burnham’s rapid consolidation of power—both through the reshuffle and the party chair appointment—signals an effort to move beyond the internal divisions that plagued the Starmer era. Yet the political landscape remains fragmented. With Labour polling at only 28%, the party still commands less than a third of the national vote, and Reform’s decline may be temporary if the cost-of-living crisis eases or if Farage regains momentum.
For a deeper look at how Labour’s role in stabilising British capitalism has been analysed historically, see our piece on The Party That Saved British Capitalism: Labour from Attlee to Burnham.
A race still wide open
Despite the positive poll movement, Labour’s lead is narrow. The combined vote of Reform, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats (58%) far exceeds Labour’s 28%. The Greens, who dropped to 8%, still represent a potential reservoir of left-wing voters Labour could attract—or lose—depending on policy direction.
Burnham’s first week has undoubtedly generated momentum, but the next election is still years away. Internal party unity, particularly after the reshuffle, will be tested. Bridget Phillipson’s new role as party chair will be crucial in managing that dynamic.
Conclusion
Andy Burnham’s appointment of Bridget Phillipson as Labour chair and the party’s first poll lead over Reform in over a year both point to a moment of cautious optimism for Labour. But the prime minister knows that turning a week of good headlines into a sustained electoral advantage will require more than reshuffles and poll bounces. The cost-of-living focus may have bought him time, but the British electorate remains volatile, and the opposition—especially Reform—will not stay silent for long.
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