Northampton MP out of government as Burnham becomes PM
Northampton North MP Lucy Rigby’s meteoric rise has come to an end as she loses her cabinet post under Burnham
By Sarah Ward
Northampton North MP Lucy Rigby has lost her government cabinet position.
Labour MP Lucy Rigby, who was appointed by former PM Keir Starmer to the chief secretary to the treasury in May, followed big Labour names such as former chancellor Rachel Reeves, housing secretary Steve Reed and justice secretary David Lammy, on returning to the back benches.
New PM Andy Burnham, who was appointed Prime Minister yesterday after Keir Starmer stepped down after losing the support of his party, installed a new government that did not include Lucy Rigby.
She was one of five novice Labour MP’s elected in Northants in July 2024, and had the fastest ascent of them all, first becoming solicitor general (which involved being given a Kings Counsel title) in December 2024 and then becoming economic secretary to the treasury in September last year before the recent promotion to the role she departed yesterday.
Lucy Rigby has been replaced by Emma Reynolds. On X the Northampton North MP said she was delighted for her friend.
John Healy has been appointed as chancellor with Ed Miliband appointed as foreign secretary. A number of high profile women from the north of England, including former deputy leader Angela Rayner have been appointed to the new PM’s cabinet.
Andy Burnham, who was the mayor of Manchester until recently, has promised to shake up the government, and says there will be a new ten year plan, which will involve more council house building and a pledge to end rough sleeping. He said he would ‘put the care of people’ at the heart of everything he does.
The party is hoping the Burnham leadership will impact the prospects of Reform UK, who have been surging in the polls for many months, although have taken a dip recently after revelations about leader Nigel Farage’s £5m gift from a Thai based crypto billionaire.
Northants has two Reform UK run councils, which have been in power for a year. However, as NN Journal has reported the councils have not had been able to settle the finances, with both councils posting the biggest ever overspends since the unitaries were created in 2021.
There has also been some turbulence in the party with both West and North losing councillors to other political parties.
Yesterday the North Reform UK group announced Thrapston councillor Joseph Garner had quit to become independent. Former Reform UK councillor turned independent Joanne Blythe announced last week that she was joining Restore UK along with Cameron Emery who had previously been Reform.
Makes a nice change to have a constituency MP just focused on the constituency, after all the years of her predecessor focusing on promotion & personal advancement.
I had professional dealings with Lucy Rigby in her previous role as Economic Secretary to the Treasury. She was impressive in this post and made impact in a very short space of time.