Burnham Taps Reynolds for Business Secretary Role

Burnham has committed to being a "pro-business leader" and to reindustrializing Britain, drawing on his experience as mayor of Greater Manchester. The Department for Business and Trade is reportedly being considered for an overhaul, potentially absorbing responsibilities for science from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. Some envision this enlarged department being rebranded as a "Ministry of Industry."

However, concerns have been raised about the potential for further Whitehall reorganisation to distract from policy delivery. Reynolds himself has indicated he did not enjoy his chief whip role and has been speculative about his future position. During his prior tenure as business secretary, he was involved in trade agreement negotiations and securing the future of British Steel.

Business groups, such as the CBI, are urging Burnham's incoming government to prioritize lowering energy costs, addressing skills shortages, and simplifying the tax and regulatory landscape. The CBI's chief executive, Rain Newton-Smith, expressed a desire for Burnham's team to succeed, highlighting 'Manchesterism' as a coherent growth theory but emphasizing the challenge of execution.