# Insiders say far from being too ‘blokeish’, Andy Burnham is surrounded by ‘Mean Girls’ atmosphere as PM’s top team of female ministers vie for his ear

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/insiders-say-far-from-being-too-blokeish-andy-burnham-is-surrounded-by-mean-girls-atmosphere-as-pms-top-team-of-female-ministers-vie-for-his-ear/
- Published: 2026-08-08T20:48:24+00:00
- Updated: 2026-08-24T17:34:22+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16038851/Insiders-blokeish-Andy-Burnham-surrounded-Mean-Girls-atmosphere.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: Government, Politics, World

## Key points

- Burnham's Cabinet is dominated by powerful, competing female ministers, insiders say
- Louise Haigh seen as most influential, clashing with Cabinet Secretary Antonia Romeo
- Rayner and Powell reportedly sidelined into more junior roles than hoped

## Summary

An article in the Daily Mail claims that despite criticism of Andy Burnham for a "blokeish" focus on pubs and football, his government is in fact dominated by powerful women vying for influence over him, creating what one ally described as a "Mean Girls" atmosphere. Insiders say Louise Haigh, as First Secretary of State and de facto Deputy Prime Minister, has emerged as the dominant figure, sidelining rivals including former deputy PM Angela Rayner and deputy Labour leader Lucy Powell, both of whom ended up in more junior Cabinet roles than expected.

The piece details tensions between Haigh and Cabinet Secretary Antonia Romeo, the first woman to hold that post, with one source claiming Haigh "wants to be the only one who has Andy's ear." Haigh's rise is traced back to her 2024 resignation over a historic fraud conviction and subsequent reports of her involvement in moves against former PM Sir Keir Starmer, including her alleged role in facilitating Burnham's return to the Commons via the Gorton and Denton by-election. Rayner returned to her former role as Housing Secretary, Powell became Education Secretary, while Shabana Mahmood (Home Secretary) and Yvette Cooper (Health Secretary) round out the senior women in Cabinet, with friction also reported after Powell warned against a leadership challenge following poor May 2026 local election results.

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