Briefing wars: how Labour ministers tried, and failed, to get into Burnham's cabinet

For weeks, as ministers jostled, lobbied and positioned themselves for big jobs in an Andy Burnham government, the incoming prime minister remained sphinxlike. He told an interviewer on Monday that he had a black box containing his ministerial picks, adding that even as he prepared to enter Downing Street: 'The black box is still sealed.' And so, when John Healey was appointed chancellor on Monday after intense briefing from allies of Ed Miliband, Shabana Mahmood and Rachel Reeves, it blindsided even those at the top of the Labour party. 'We did not see this coming,' said one Labour MP. 'But that is probably a sign that it is a good decision.' Healey's resignation as defence secretary last month, in protest at the proposed defence investment plan, was a critical moment in the downfall of Burnham's predecessor, Keir Starmer. Weeks before Burnham was elected as Makerfield MP, some in the Labour party thought Reeves was positioning herself to stay in post as chancellor. In the end, none of this pressure was enough. Reeves resigned from the government on Monday having turned down the offer of another big appointment -- reported to be that of defence secretary. Steve Reed, the outgoing housing and communities secretary... it was not enough to save his job and he left the government on Monday. 'Andy hates people briefing themselves into jobs,' said one aide. 'Anyone doing so is just as likely to find themselves out of government.'