Burnham's first moves as UK PM: new chancellor, Miliband to foreign office and a social turn

MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Monday, July 20th 2026 - 20:52 UTC

Burnham, 56, acknowledged the fragility of his position and said politicians “need to be better” to restore stability

The United Kingdom's new prime minister, Labour's Andy Burnham, began shaping his government with a cabinet reshuffle and a series of socially oriented announcements, hours after taking office in place of Keir Starmer. The former mayor of Greater Manchester, who reached Downing Street without a general election after winning the Labour leadership, is Britain's seventh prime minister in a decade.

Among the cabinet changes, the appointment of John Healey as Chancellor of the Exchequer, in charge of finances, stood out as a move that surprised Westminster, after Rachel Reeves confirmed her departure. Former Energy Secretary Ed Miliband was promoted to foreign secretary, while Shabana Mahmood was reappointed home secretary. Louise Haigh, a close ally who coordinated his preparations for office, was placed in charge of the Cabinet Office as first secretary of state. Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy tendered his resignation. Further appointments are expected in the coming hours.