Burnham announces new ministers as Healey, Mahmood and Miliband take top cabinet roles - with deputy PM still unconfirmed
New PM Andy Burnham has announced his top Cabinet team - with John Healey appointed as Chancellor in a major shock
Andy Burnham has announced his top Cabinet team - with John Healey becoming Chancellor in a major shock.
Listen to this article
The former defence secretary, who resigned over the defence spending plan, will take on the Treasury's top job after it had been suggested that Burnham was instead considering Ed Miliband and Shabana Mahmood for the role.
Mr Healey was Economic Secretary to the Treasury and Financial Secretary to the Treasury under Gordon Brown for five years.
The Prime Minister has said he wants to deliver more council homes across the country. Mr Healey has long-standing experience in this area.
Read More: LIVE: John Healey appointed Chancellor and Reeves out in Burnham’s cabinet reshuffle
Read More: Andy Burnham faces Labour rebellion if Shabana Mahmood appointed chancellor
As defence secretary, he brought housing for the Armed Forces back into public ownership and drove investment in housing for armed forces families.
He is well-respected on the international stage and has built links with key economic allies in Europe, the Middle East and the United States.
Mr Miliband was instead moved from his role as energy secretary into the plum job as foreign secretary, with Ms Mahmood remaining in her role in the Home Office.
Burnham ally Louise Haigh will head up the Cabinet Office, serving as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and First Secretary of State.
Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden remains in his post, while Yvette Cooper, formerly the foreign secretary, is now Health Secretary.
Lisa Nandy, a close ally of Mr Burnham’s, remains as Culture Secretary, while Jonathan Reynolds has returned as Business Secretary, a role he held when Labour first came to power in 2024.
Angela Rayner, who has been cleared over her tax affairs since she quit as Sir Keir’s deputy prime minister and from the Cabinet, returned to Government as Housing Secretary.
Prominent Burnham backers Lucy Powell and Anneliese Midgley were appointed Education Secretary and Chief Whip respectively.
They – along with Ms Haigh – were instrumental in Mr Burnham’s campaign to win the Makerfield by-election and return to Parliament to topple Sir Keir.
In a late-night addition, Wes Streeting became the new Defence Secretary, succeeding Dan Jarvis, and Miatta Fahnbulleh – a member of Mr Burnham’s inner circle – became the Energy Secretary.
In his first speech of PM, the former Mayor of Greater Manchester pledged to “make this moment a circuit-breaker for Britain”.
Speaking outside No 10 without notes or a lectern, Mr Burnham said he would “bring forward the biggest changes in the last 40 years.”
He added: “I know people at home are fed up with politics. I hear you, and I want to be honest with you, we have not been good enough and we need to be better. We will be."
The Labour leader promised a return to public ownership and a 10-year plan for Britain. He said that his first priority in office will be ending rough sleeping.
Mr Burnham became PM today, having won the Labour leadership contest without any opposition, on the back of his victory in the Makerfield by-election.
Earlier, Sir Keir Starmer vacated No 10 Downing Street.