Louise Haigh (Labour) has returned to government as First Secretary of State under Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
The appointment establishes Haigh as a central power broker in the current administration. As the de facto deputy to the Prime Minister, she holds outsized influence over government operations at the Cabinet Office in Westminster [1, 3].
Haigh's return comes less than two years after she previously resigned from government [1]. Her appointment in July 2026 occurred just two days before her 39th birthday [2].
While some analysts describe her as the most powerful woman in the UK, official cabinet rankings suggest a more nuanced hierarchy [1, 2]. According to those rankings, Haigh is the third most senior figure in the government, trailing only the Prime Minister and the Chancellor [3].
Despite this formal ranking, Haigh is viewed as a key architect of Andy Burnham's rise to Number 10 [2, 3]. Her role as First Secretary of State allows her to wield significant authority across various departments, a position that positions her at the heart of British political power [1, 3].
“Louise Haigh has returned to government as First Secretary of State.”
The appointment of Louise Haigh signals a consolidation of power around a tight inner circle loyal to Andy Burnham. By placing a trusted power broker in the First Secretary of State role, the Prime Minister ensures a high level of coordination between the Cabinet Office and Number 10, effectively creating a deputy prime minister role without the formal title.
