{
  "id": 2401217,
  "title": "Lord O’Neill declines job in Burnham government",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/lord-oneill-declines-job-in-burnham-government",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-21T15:19:44.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "City AM",
    "slug": "city-am",
    "url": "https://www.cityam.com/lord-oneill-declines-job-in-burnham-government/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Lord Jim O’Neill, a former Goldman Sachs executive and Tory Treasury minister, has declined a position in Andy Burnham’s government. This decision has dealt a setback to the Prime Minister, who is endeavoring to attract business support prior to the Budget. O’Neill, who had previously served as an informal economic adviser to Burnham, had been in discussions to assume a key economic role within Burnham's government, as reported by City AM. However, it has now been confirmed that he has rejected the formal role. The reason for his decision was his preference to maintain control over his personal investments, rather than any disagreement over policy, according to sources familiar with the matter. O’Neill informed the Financial Times that he felt his current positions in the private sector to be too rewarding and did not wish to place his assets in a blind trust while serving in an official capacity. Despite his disappointment, O’Neill expressed his admiration for the emphasis on devolution and hoped for bold moves by Burnham and his team. This decision will undoubtedly impact Burnham as the Prime Minister seeks to garner support from businesses and investors. O’Neill was one of three prominent advisors believed to be consulting Burnham before his election to Parliament for Makerfield. The other economists, Richard Hughes and Richard Hughes, have also not joined Burnham's team in any official role, as previously reported by City AM. Additionally, Minouche Shafik, a former deputy governor of the Bank of England, has left Number 10 as an economics adviser, further weakening the economic expertise surrounding Burnham and Chancellor John Healey's advisory teams.",
  "summary": "Former Goldman Sachs executive and Tory Treasury minister Lord Jim O’Neill has declined a job in Andy Burnham’s government, in a blow to the Prime Minister as he looks to woo business ahead of the Budget. O’Neill served as an informal economic adviser to Burnham before his election as Labour leader and had been in [...]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}