Home

Live updates as Prime Minister Andy Burnham appoints his Cabinet

Photo: Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street

Andy Burnham has been appointed Prime Minister and has now begun the task of appointing his top team at the Cabinet table. His roster of ministers will be tasked with his ten-year vision of rolling back decades of neo-liberalism and handing power from Westminster to local communities.

Burnham’s first appointment, John Healey as Chancellor, has surprised some – as his name was not touted as a potential replacement for Rachel Reeves. Ed Miliband has been appointed as Foreign Secertary, while Shabana Mahmood has maintained her job as Home Secretary.

Refresh this page for live updates as we get them on which MPs will be joining his government.

23.15 That’s all folks!

LabourList is wrapping up for the night but tune in tomorrow for more ministerial appointments.

23.10 Final Cabinet appointments

Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP will remain as Secretary of State for Transport.

  Rt Hon Sir Alan Campbell MP will remain as Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons.

 Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Basildon will remain as Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House of Lords.

Stephen Kinnock MP has been appointed as Secretary of State for Wales. Sir Chris Bryant MP as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP will remain as Secretary of State for Scotland.

Rt Hon Ellie Reeves KC MP and sister of Rachel Reeves has been appointed  as Attorney General. Rt Hon Emma Reynolds MP as Chief Secretary to the Treasury. Both will attend cabinet. 

Other ministers attending cabinet will be Kanishka Narayan MP as Minister of State (Minister for Artificial Intelligence) jointly in the Cabinet Office and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Hamish Falconer MP as Minister of State (Minister for Intergovernmental Relations and European Relations) jointly in the Cabinet Office and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and Matthew Pennycook MP will remain as Minister of State in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. He will attend Cabinet. 

23.03 Alex Norris to Justice

The former minister for border security is now in the Cabinet as Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor.

22.59 Streeting to Defence

The former Health Secretary will be charged with delivering the rise in defence spending to 3.5% GDP.

22.56 Angela Eagle to Environment and Miatta Fahnbulleh to Energy

Fahnbulleh is the second after Anneliese Midgeley of the 2024 intake to get a cabinet position. Eagle on the other hand has been an MP since 1992.

22.14 Lisa Nandy to remain as Secretary for Culture, Media and Sport

The Burnham constituency neigbour and ally retains her brief.

22.11 Statement from Angela Rayner

21.35 Bridget Phillipson retains Women and Equalities Brief as a full member of the cabinet

Bridget Phillipson will retain the Women and Equalities brief which will now be a full cabinet role.

21.31 Jonathan Reynolds returns to the Business department with Anneliese Midgley taking over as Chief Whip

Jonathan Reynolds has returned to his role as Business Secretary with Science and Innovation added to the brief. Meanwhile, key Burnham fixer Anneliese Midgley takes on this role as Chief Whip.

21.28 Angela Rayner returns to Housing, Communities and Local Government while Lucy Powell gets Education.

Former Deputy PM Angela Rayner returns to the brief she held until forced to resign in September last year. Meanwhile close Burnham ally Lucy Powell moves into the Education brief.

9.20pm: More potential ministers walk into Downing Street

Ellie Reeves, Chris Bryant and Baroness Smith are the latest Labour figures to walk into Number 10 as Burnham continues forming his government.

9.10pm: Wes Streeting appears in Downing Street

Former Health Secretary and former leadership contender Wes Streeting has been seen entering Number 10, much later than several of his former Cabinet colleagues. With his old post going to Yvette Cooper, what role might Streeting get in Burnham’s government?

Miatta Fahnbulleh, Heidi Alexander and Alex Norris have also been seen entering Downing Street.

8.20pm: Ed Miliband statement after becoming Foreign Secretary

7.53pm: Cooper becomes Health Secretary, while McFadden stays at DWP

Yvette Cooper has been appointed as Health Secretary in Burnham’s government, while Pat McFadden has maintained his job as Work and Pensions Secretary.

Cooper will be tasked with implementing Burnham’s vision for social care reform, an issue which will be a core part of his administration.

7.25pm: Lucy Powell spotted in Downing Street

Deputy Labour leader Lucy Powell has now entered Number 10 – might she become Deputy Prime Minister?

7.24pm: Bridget Phillipson enters Number 10

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has also been seen going into Downing Street…

7.17pm: Burnham ally Anneliese Midgley in Downing Street

Knowsley MP and Burnham ally Anneliese Midgley has been seen entering Number 10. Initially Keir Starmer’s initial choice for Labour general secretary in 2020 (although she did contest that role), she was one of the key figures in Burnham’s by-election victory and leadership campaign and has been described as one of the most influential figures in the party under his leadership.

7.05pm: ‘We will build a new economy’

New Chancellor John Healey has said it is the “greatest privilege” to be appointed Chancellor and said: “Together, we will build a new economy, build new hope and advance the working people of this country. Time to get on with the job.”

7.00pm: Angela Rayner enters Number 10

Former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner is set to return to government after being seen entering Downing Street. Rayner resigned from government in September last year amid controversy over her tax affairs.

6.52pm: Lisa Nandy seen in Downing Street

The current Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has been seen entering Number 10 – will she keep her job or move to a new position in the Cabinet?

6.46pm: Louise Haigh becomes Chancellor of Duchy of Lancaster

Former Transport Secretary Louise Haigh has now been appointed as First Secretary of State, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office. Haigh was a key player in Burnham’s campaign to return to Parliament and his bid to become Prime Minister.

6.45pm: Shabana Mahmood remains as Home Secretary

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood keeps her job in the Cabinet, enabling her to continue her work on tackling illegal migration.

6.42pm: Ed Miliband becomes Foreign Secretary

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has been appointed as Foreign Secertary, after initial suggestions that his brother David might have been given a peerage to serve in the role.

6.39pm: Pat McFadden seen entering Downing Street

Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden has been seen entering Number 10 – it is unknown what position he is set to get in the new government.

6.30pm: Handshake between new PM and new Chancellor

6.20pm: Nick Thomas-Symonds out as Paymaster General

Paymaster General Nick Thomas-Symonds is also out of government.

6.15pm: John Healey appointed Chancellor

In a surprise move, former Defence Secretary John Healey has been appointed by Andy Burnham as Chancellor, confounding media reports that Burnham was choosing between Ed Miliband and Shabana Mahmood.

Meanwhile, Yvette Cooper has also been seen entering Number 10…

5.51pm: Hilary Benn out as Northern Ireland Secretary

Hilary Benn has been dismissed as Northern Ireland Secretary and said: “I wish my successor all the very best in working with the [Stormont] Executive to protect stability, continuing to generate growth and investment and in taking forward the Troubles Bill which is so important for so many families. The Prime Minister will have my full support from the backbenches.”

Meanwhile, Louise Haigh has been spotted going into Number 10 – it is thought she will get a job as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

5.30pm: More appearances in Downing Street

Following John Healey being spotted entering Number 10, Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood have both been seen along Downing Street. Both ministers have been touted as potential picks for Burnham as Chancellor.

5.10pm: Darren Jones leaves government

Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones has confirmed he will not serve in Burnham’s Cabinet.

In a social media post, he said: “Andy Burnham has called to tell me I won’t be a part of his new cabinet. I wish him and his team every success.”

5.06pm: John Healey spotted near Downing Street

Former Defence Secretary John Healey, who resigned from Starmer’s government over the defence investment plan, has been spotted at Downing Street. It is unknown what job he might be in for.

5.00pm: Jo Stevens out as Wales Secretary

Wales Secretary Jo Stevens has joined six other ministers in being asked to leave government. In a statement, she said: “I wish the new Prime Minister and my successor the very best in their new roles and know that they will do a great job, alongside our new Welsh Labour leader Ken Skates, in delivering for the people of Wales.”.

4.45pm: Six Starmer loyalists out of Cabinet

So far, Burnham has ousted six Cabinet ministers seen as close Starmer allies; Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Technology Secretary Liz Kendall, Attorney General Lord Hermer, Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, Business Secretary Peter Kyle and Housing Secretary Steve Reed.

4.40pm: Liz Kendall out as Technology Secretary

Technology Secretary and former Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has left government.

4.21pm: Lord Hermer out

Attorney General Lord Hermer, close ally of Keir Starmer, has also been removed from his Cabinet post.

3.59pm: Rachel Reeves out as Chancellor

Chancellor Rachel Reeves, the first woman to hold the role, has joined the list of MPs leaving government.

In a post on X, she said: “The economy today is stronger, fairer and more resilient because of the choices we have taken as a Labour Government over the past two years.

“Stability restored, investment delivered and reform to our economy under way. I said when I was appointed Chancellor that I would judge my time in office if the lives ordinary working class people have been improved. I’m proud to say that they have.

“And to every young woman and girl let my time in office show there should be no ceilings on your ambitions, your hopes or your dreams.

“I wish the very best of luck to my successor, Andy and his cabinet. You have my full support, and I will continue to play my part in helping this Labour government deliver the change the country needs.”

It has been reported that Reeves was offered another job in government, but she turned it down.

3.52pm: Lammy and Kyle leave government

Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy is leaving the Cabinet as Burnham’s Cabinet appointments get underway.

In a statement on social media, he said: “I would have been proud to continue serving in Cabinet. But a new Prime Minister is entitled to build his own team, and I wish Andy Burnham and the new Cabinet every success.”

Sky News has also reported that Business Secretary Peter Kyle has been sacked from the government.

3.37pm: Steve Reed leaves government

Housing Secretary Steve Reed has left government as Andy Burnham begins selecting his top team.

In a letter to the new Prime Minister, he said: “Serving as the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government has been the honour of my life and although I am disappointed to be leaving government now, I wish your new team every success.”

Reed was one of the most ardent supporters of Keir Starmer during his administration.

Become a friend of LabourList and join our community. Our friends support our vital non-factional work and get access to exclusive content and events. 

Subscribe here to our daily newsletter roundup of Labour news, analysis and comment– and follow us on TikTok, Bluesky, WhatsApp, X and Facebook. You can also write to our editor to share your thoughts on our stories and share your own. The best letters are published every Sunday.

    • SHARE: If you have anything to share that we should be looking into or publishing about this story – or any other topic involving Labour– contact us (strictly anonymously if you wish) at [email protected].
    • SUBSCRIBE: Sign up to LabourList’s morning email here for the best briefing on everything Labour, every weekday morning.
    • BECOME A FRIEND: If you enjoyed this, why not consider becoming a Friend of LabourList? Help sustain our journalism, and of course Friends do get benefits…
    • PARTNER: If you or your organisation might be interested in partnering with us on sponsored events or projects, email [email protected].
    • ADVERTISE: If your organisation would like to advertise or run sponsored pieces on LabourList‘s daily newsletter or website, contact our exclusive ad partners Total Politics at [email protected].
Tags: Parliament / Labour Party / Andy Burnham / MPs / Labour / Government / Politics / Downing Street / prime Minister / Chancellor / House of Commons / PM / UK politics / UK Labour Party /
Subscribe to our daily email

More from LabourList

Become a Friend

Support independent Labour journalism – for just £4.99 a month!

If you value what we do, become a Friend of LabourList today.