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LAST UPDATE | 13 mins ago
NEW BRITISH PRIME minister Andy Burnham is announcing his new Labour cabinet, just hours after assuming the top job from Keir Starmer.
In his first speech on Downing Street, the former Greater Manchester mayor promised to bring about “the biggest changes” in British politics in the last 40 years.
He has wasted no time in naming his top team and, consequently, sacking those that Starmer had appointed.
Big names like Rachel Reeves, David Lammy and Steve Reed have all lost their jobs to make way for Burnham’s picks.
He has appointed John Healey as Chancellor of the Exchequer – the minister in charge of the UK’s finances – in what came as a surprise to Westminster.
Healey, who resigned as Starmer’s defence minister only last month amid a row over defence spending, is a stalwart of Labour’s frontbench and seen as a safe pair of hands.
He takes over from Rachel Reeves, who had been the first female politician to hold the Treasury brief. According to some UK media reports, Burnham offered Reeves another job, but she turned it down.
Ed Miliband, the former leader of the UK Labour Party, has been promoted to Foreign Secretary. There had been rumours over the weekend that he was in the running for the Chancellor role.
Ed Miliband has been appointed as Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs @FCDOGovUK. pic.twitter.com/z5wMq19400
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) July 20, 2026
Miliband said it was the “honour of his life” to take on his new role as he promised to maintain close ties with both the EU and the US, as well as upholding Britain’s commitments to Nato and the United Nations.
He takes over from Yvette Cooper, who Burnham has appointed his new Health Secretary. She has been an MP since 1997.
Angela Rayner has been appointed Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government. Rayner previously held the housing brief under Keir Starmer.
She stepped down last year after admitting that she did not pay enough stamp duty on a second home. But in May, she was cleared by HM Revenue and Customs of any deliberate wrongdoing in an investigation over her tax affairs, paving the way for her return to frontline politics.
Shabana Mahmood, an Oxford trained barrister and Labour MP since 2010, has stayed in post as Home Secretary. She’s held that role since Starmer appointed her last year and has established a reputation for being tough on immigration.
In a post on social media, Mahmood said it was “an honour” to remain in the role, adding: “I may be biased, but it’s the best job in the business.
Wes Streeting has been appointed Defence Secretary, Alex Norris is the new Justice Secretary, Angela Eagle is the new Environment Secretary, and Miatta Fahnbulleh has been appointed Energy Secretary.
Streeting did not answer reporters’ questions as he left Downing Street following his appointment.
Lisa Nandy meanwhile has kept her job as Culture Secretary and told reporters that she was “very” happy with her job as she left Downing Street smiling this evening.
Scottish MP Pat McFadden has kept his job as Work and Pensions Secretary.
Lucy Powell, an MP since 2012 and Starmer’s former deputy prime minister, is the new Education Secretary.
She takes the role from Bridget Phillipson. However, she will remain a member of cabinet as Minister for Women and Equalities.
Jonathan Reynolds was appointed as Business and Trade Secretary. He held the role in Starmer’s government for a year, before he was made chief whip following a reshuffle last September.
Anneliese Midgley, a former senior trade union and Labour official who has been an MP since 2024, has been appointed as Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury – or Chief Whip.
Louise Haigh takes on the role as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. The ministerial role is a senior coordinator role in government and makes Haigh the most senior minister in the Cabinet Office, apart from the prime minister.
She previously served as Secretary of State for Transport under Starmer in 2024, but resigned after five months when it emerged she had been convicted of fraud over a missing work phone.
Heidi Alexander has kept her role as Transport Secretary, having first entered the brief after Haigh left in 2024.
Doughlas Alexander has been made the Secretary of State for Scotland, and Stephen Kinnock is Secretary of State for Wales.
Rachel Reeves may have left Cabinet, but her sister Ellie Reeves will be attending as Attorney General.
Emma Reynolds is Chief Secretary to the Treasury, where she will work under the new Healey. Anneliese Midgley, a supporter of Burnham who played a key role in his leadership campaign, will be Chief Whip.
Alan Campbell has retained his position as Leader of the House of Commons.
Burnham announced his pick for Northern Ireland Secretary as Chris Bryant on Monday evening, shortly after Hilary Benn confirmed that he was leaving the role after two years.
Bryant, a former Anglican priest, was first elected to parliament in 2001. This is his first Cabinet role.
In a statement, Benn said it had been a “great privilege” to serve in the position and he wished his successor all the best, adding that Burnham would have his “full support from the backbenches”.
Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee thanked Benn “for his deep commitment to Northern Ireland, and to the UK-Ireland relationship more broadly”.
“He approached his role with purpose and understanding, and with a clear wish to make things better for all the people of Northern Ireland,” she said, adding that this approach had allowed both governments to agree on the joint Legacy of the Troubles framework.
“Hilary has brought warmth and a constructive approach to all of his relationships here in Ireland, and indeed in Northern Ireland. I wish Hilary the very best in the future.”
Elsewhere, Peter Kyle, who was business secretary, former technology secretary Liz Kendall, and Lord Hermer, the now ex-attorney general, also announced they were leaving the UK government.
Jo Stevens lost her job as Secretary of State for Wales and Darren Jones, who served as Starmer’s chief secretary, said Burnham told him he “won’t be a part of his new cabinet”.
Burnham earlier said his approach was about putting the “right values and the right standards” at the heart of government.
“I will put the care of people at the heart of everything I do,” he said, urging Britons to “pull with me” to “build a new national sense of unity”.
His first call as prime minister was with Donald Trump, with Downing Street saying he told the US president he hoped to show him “what Manchester had to offer during a visit in the future” amid speculation next year’s G20 summit could be held there.
His second call was to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, after which the Ukrainian president said he congratulated Burnham on his new position. “I truly appreciate that the support for Ukraine and our people will remain steadfast,” he added.
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