Andy Burnham’s new Business Secretary was left squirming as he failed to name any Cabinet members who’ve had experience running a business. Jonathan Reynolds, who replaced Peter Kyle in the new Prime Minister’s reshuffle, said members of Mr Burnham’s top team have worked in the private sector but couldn’t say whether any had headed a firm.
In an awkward encounter with Daily Express columnist Nick Ferrari on LBC, Mr Reynolds was asked by the presenter: “How many people in Cabinet have actually run businesses?” The Labour politician, who was most recently Sir Keir Starmer’s chief whip, responded: “I’ll be frank, I haven’t actually confirmed the full line-up of the Cabinet yet so I can’t give you that specific figure.” When pressed again by Ferrari, Mr Reynold replied: “I honestly… I could certainly talk about a lot of people who worked in the private sector but the point being you get judged on what you do.
“And I’ve seen a lot of people, I’ve shadowed a lot of business secretaries and I know I can do this job. I know I can do a job for business and the country.”
Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith shared the interview clip on X, saying: “Business Secretary can’t name ONE person in the cabinet who has run a business!
“Labour prefer career politicians, trade unionists, and activists to entrepreneurs.
“How can business trust people who don’t understand business?”
Mr Reynolds appeared on LBC on Tuesday morning, hours after being selected by Mr Burnham in his new-look Cabinet on Monday night.
More than half of the outgoing PM’s Cabinet was removed or demoted as the former Greater Manchester mayor promised the biggest change to British politics in 40 years.
Mr Reynolds was among the key changes as he returned as Business Secretary, having previously held the role from July 2024 to September last year.