Two cities MP Rachel Blake exits government in Burnham reshuffle

Rachel Blake, MP for Cities of London and Westminster, has lost her job as a government minister as part of a major reshuffle by the new prime minister Andy Burnham.

Blake had been appointed as a government minister as part of a small reshuffle triggered by the resignation of health secretary Wes Streeting in May this year.

She has been replaced by Lucy Rigby the MP for Northampton North.

In an email newsletter to her constituents this week, Blake gave her congratulations to Rigby on her appointment as economic secretary to the Treasury, and said:

“It had been a privilege to take up the role for the past two months, working on key issues that affect us here in the Cities of London and Westminster including supporting the Co-operative and Mutual Sector, the future of the Financial Services Sector, Access to Banking Services and Financial Inclusion.”

Responding to Burnham’s policy announcements, Blake said:

“I’m glad prime minister Andy Burnham has made the commitment to end rough sleeping for good. On Monday, the prime minister visited The Passage in Victoria to meet with the team and local service users, I know how seriously he takes this this and I will continue to work tirelessly with local partners and residents, to support the prime minister and put an end to what has been the norm for far too long.”

As Mayor of Manchester Burnham also promised to end rough sleeping — a pledge he failed to deliver on.

Downing Street later issued a statement saying that Burnham will end “long-term” rough sleeping across the UK “at the earliest opportunity” but without defining “long-term” or giving a date when this would be achieved.

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