Prime Minister Andy Burnham has appointed Bridget Phillipson as the new chair of the Labour Party, handing the cabinet minister a central role in shaping the party's approach to the next general election. Phillipson retains her existing position as Minister for Women and Equalities, combining the two briefs as she takes over from Anna Turley, who has moved to the Home Office as an immigration minister.

The appointment was confirmed a week after Burnham finalised the rest of his cabinet, a delay that Labour has not explained. It places Phillipson at the head of the party's organisational machinery at a moment when Burnham is seeking to consolidate his position following his rapid ascent to Downing Street.

Phillipson's brief extends well beyond the traditional duties of party chair. She has been tasked with driving what Labour officials describe as a culture change within the party, building the infrastructure, talent and policy platform needed to fight the next election, which must be held by the summer of 2029. Central to this task is a push to modernise Labour's digital campaigning operation, an area officials believe has fallen behind rival parties.

Confirming the appointment, Burnham said Phillipson would help drive the culture change the party needs, working alongside Lucy Powell and himself to keep Labour focused on delivering for working people. He added that she would play a vital role in ensuring the party is match fit for the next election.

The appointment carries a degree of political history. Phillipson served as education secretary under Sir Keir Starmer before Burnham stripped her of that department when he took office, transferring it instead to Lucy Powell, the deputy Labour leader. The reshuffle was widely read as a setback for Phillipson, who remained in cabinet only through her equalities portfolio.

Phillipson and Powell were rivals only last year, when both stood in the contest to succeed Angela Rayner as deputy leader following Rayner's resignation. Phillipson emerged as the early frontrunner in that race before Powell ultimately won the role. The two women are now required to work in close coordination, with Powell holding the education brief that once belonged to Phillipson and Phillipson overseeing the party machinery that will shape Powell's own political fortunes at the next election.

Labour's announcement framed the appointment as part of a broader effort to draw on talent from across the party as Burnham builds what officials called one united team focused on changing Britain and delivering a second term in government. The reference to unity is widely seen as an acknowledgement of the tensions the deputy leadership contest exposed within Labour's senior ranks.

Phillipson has spoken of her long-standing commitment to the party since joining as a teenager, and colleagues describe her new role as an opportunity to rebuild momentum after a difficult period for Starmer's former top team. Her immediate task will be to oversee the organisational changes Labour believes are necessary to compete with Reform UK, which has narrowed the gap with Labour in opinion polls over the past year, though recent surveys suggest Labour has regained some ground since Burnham took office.

Powell has signalled her support for the arrangement, with Labour figures pointing to the need for a stronger ground operation ahead of 2029. The emphasis on coordination between Phillipson, Powell and chief whip Anneliese Midgley is intended to project a sense of cohesion at the top of the party, following a reshuffle that removed several ministers loyal to Starmer.

For Burnham, the appointment represents an early test of his ability to balance the competing factions within Labour while presenting a credible electoral strategy. Phillipson's new dual role, spanning both a cabinet department and the party's organisational leadership, gives her significant influence over how Labour prepares for what is likely to be a hard-fought contest against Reform UK in 2029.

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