March of the Northern Queens! Labour MP coins soubriquet - as it's revealed Burnham's team is more private school and Oxbridge than Starmer's

Published: 00:11, 22 July 2026 | Updated: 00:11, 22 July 2026 Andy Burnham has appointed three times as many Northern Cabinet ministers as Southern as he attempts to transfer power away from London. Backbenchers boasted of the 'march of the Northern Queens' as the Prime Minister paraded his new Cabinet for the cameras on Tuesday. Mr Burnham's top team also includes triple the number of private school pupils as Sir Keir Starmer's – as well as nearly twice the number of Oxbridge graduates. However, questions were raised about the integrity of some of his appointments, which include a convicted fraudster and a stamp duty dodger. The so-called 'King of the North' has spoken at length about devolving power outside of Whitehall and creating a 'No 10 North'.  Now he has rewarded many of his allies – known as the 'Manchester Mafia' – with powerful jobs.  His Cabinet includes 14 members from northern constituencies – including a 'band of strong, Northern power women'. Four represent the Midlands, four represent London, two represent the South, three represent Wales and one Scotland. Angela Rayner, reappointed to the housing brief, resigned from government after failing to pay £40,000 of stamp duty on her £800,000 flat in Hove He made Louise Haigh First Secretary of State despite being a convicted fraudster New Education Secretary Lucy Powell caused controversy last year after dismissing the grooming gang scandal as a 'dog whistle' issue Mapping of the areas Mr Burnham's Cabinet represents indicates that the geographic centre of power has shifted north, it now sits between Sheffield and Knowsley in Merseyside. But his pitch as a 'man of the people' is at odds with his elite Cabinet. Nearly a quarter attended private schools (24 per cent) – a significant increase on the 8 per cent under the previous administration, the Sutton Trust found.  In comparison, just over 6 per cent of the general population go to fee-paying schools. The AI minister Kanishka Narayan went to Eton College – where fees are up to £65,000 a year – on a scholarship.  Hamish Falconer, the minister for Intergovernmental Relations and European Relations, attended Westminster School, which costs up to £63,000 a year.  And Northern Ireland Secretary Sir Chris Bryant went to Cheltenham College – which costs up to £60,000 a year – on a scholarship. Meanwhile, Scottish Secretary, Douglas Alexander attended the elite Pearson College in Canada, which costs $73,000 (£39,000) a year, on a scholarship. However, 41 per cent of the top team was educated in the North. And more than half went to Oxford or Cambridge (54 per cent), compared to 29 per cent of Sir Keir's Cabinet, according to the Higher Education Policy Institute. Only 1 per cent of the general population attend Oxbridge. While there are more women in Mr Burnham's Cabinet, fewer have big jobs. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is now the only woman to hold a great office of state. Equalities minister Bridget Phillipson leaves 10 Downing Street following Prime Minister Andy Burnham's first cabinet meeting Lisa Nandy retained her position as Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Your browser does not support iframes. Backbencher Oliver Ryan enthused about the 'stellar appointments', posting: 'Personally I'm completely here for the march of the Northern Queens: Lou, Anneliese, Ange, Lucy, joining Lisa and Bridget – what a squad'. But the PM faces questions over some of the appointments. He made Louise Haigh First Secretary of State despite being a convicted fraudster.  And Angela Rayner, reappointed to the housing brief, resigned from government after failing to pay £40,000 of stamp duty on her £800,000 flat in Hove.  Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds apologised last year for lying about working as a solicitor despite not being qualified before he became an MP.  And new Education Secretary Lucy Powell caused controversy last year after dismissing the grooming gang scandal as a 'dog whistle' issue. Kevin Hollinrake, Conservative Party chairman, said: 'It is a damning indictment that this is seemingly the best Labour can offer the country. 'Not only will the public question whether they can trust this ragtag bunch, they will also ask whether they are fit to run the country.' Yvette Cooper, Health Secretary Dame Angela Eagle, Environment Secretary Stephen Kinnock, Welsh Secretary - Hamish Falconer, European Relations Minister Douglas Alexander, Scotland Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, Business Secretary Wes Streeting, Defence Secretary  Angela Rayner, Housing Secretary  Pat McFadden, Work and Pensions Secretary Baroness (Angela) Smith, Leader of the House of Lords