Andy Burnham shakes up Whitehall with new government department

Louise Haigh will head up the new department, which takes in parts of the Cabinet Office, Treasury and housing ministry. Photograph: Ryan Jenkinson/Getty Images

Andy Burnham has created a powerful new prime minister’s department taking in parts of the Cabinet Office, Treasury and housing ministry to become the “dominant driver of the UK’s economy”.

In one of his first acts, Burnham has created the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, to be led by his ally and enforcer Louise Haigh, which will oversee the No 10 operation in London, the forthcoming No 10 North in Manchester and parts of the Cabinet Office.