# "You can't have more Milibands than women in top jobs" - Cain and Abel mark II

An episode of [The State of It](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1603820936), 30 Jun 2026, 29 min.

Audio: https://sphinx.acast.com/p/acast/s/times-daily-world-briefing/e/6a43a028f39c4096b7a6c17a/media.mp3

There is considerable intrigue around Andy Burnham's possible cabinet, not least because the eldest Miliband brother is being linked to the position of Foreign Secretary. Are we about to see UK politic's Cain and Able story return for a second round? And most importantly, Is Andy Burnham ready? Burnham's debut speech caused headlines with his bold plans to reshape the British state. But there are difficult questions lurking behind the rhetoric, namely what does any of it actually mean? Plus, Reform UK gears up to choose their top candidates to challenge Burnham in his own backyard. Steven Swinford, political editor, The Times Lara Spirit, deputy political editor, The Sunday Times Patrick Maguire, chief political commentator, The Times Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson Executive producer: Molly Guinness Picture: Getty Images Audio: Reuters Email us: thestateofit@thetimes.co.uk 00:00 The Return of David Miliband? 02:53 The Miliband Brothers Psychodrama 04:23 Labour's "Boys Club" Optics Problem 08:02 The Brutal Fight for Top Cabinet Jobs 11:20 How Burnham is Manipulating Westminster 13:56 Burnham vs Starmer: The Real Difference 16:27 The Hidden Cost of Devolution (Tax Rises?) 19:31 What is "Number 10 North" Really About? 22:31 Why the Tories Fear Ed Miliband as Chancellor 25:29 Nigel Farage's Secret Plot for the North 27:35 The £5 Million Farage Crypto Investigation This podcast was brought to you thanks to subscribers of The Times and The Sunday Times. To enjoy unlimited digital access to all our journalism subscribe here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Shows are listed from Apple Podcasts' charts and directory, and Podcast Index where it is used. Every show and episode belongs to its publisher and plays from the publisher's own feed; this site hosts none of them.