Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced his first Cabinet, making a series of high-profile appointments that set out his immediate governing priorities. Among the headline moves, John Healey has been appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer and Ed Miliband becomes Foreign Secretary. The team combines experienced ministers who served under previous Labour administrations with close Burnham allies.
Key appointments and political balance
Healey, who resigned as Defence Secretary in June over disagreements with the previous prime minister's defence spending plans, is Burnham's first Cabinet choice. The new Foreign Secretary, Miliband, returns to a senior post after serving in senior roles in earlier Labour governments.
- John Healey – Chancellor of the Exchequer
- Ed Miliband – Foreign Secretary
- Shabana Mahmood – Home Secretary (retained)
- Wes Streeting – Defence Secretary
- Yvette Cooper – Health Secretary
- Lucy Powell – Education Secretary
- Angela Rayner – Housing, Communities and Local Government
- Miatta Fahnbulleh – Energy Secretary
Burnham has largely kept a number of ministers in place: Shabana Mahmood remains Home Secretary, Pat McFadden continues at Work & Pensions, Lisa Nandy retains Culture, and Heidi Alexander remains at Transport. The appointments also mark the return to government for figures who left ministerial posts amid controversy or disagreement.
New or notable roles
The reshuffle includes a few firsts and reconfigured briefs. Kanishka Narayan is named as the first ever Cabinet minister with responsibility for Artificial Intelligence, reflecting the administration's attention to emerging technologies. Jonathan Reynolds will lead an expanded business department, while Anneliese Midgley has been appointed Chief Whip.
| Office | Minister |
|---|---|
| Chancellor of the Exchequer | John Healey |
| Foreign Secretary | Ed Miliband |
| Home Secretary | Shabana Mahmood |
| Defence Secretary | Wes Streeting |
| Health Secretary | Yvette Cooper |
| Education Secretary | Lucy Powell |
| Housing, Communities & Local Government | Angela Rayner |
| Energy Secretary | Miatta Fahnbulleh |
The composition of the team suggests Burnham is aiming to blend experience with loyalists from his leadership campaign and earlier local government base. Several figures who played roles in Burnham's return to Westminster have been rewarded with prominent positions, while others have been retained to preserve continuity across core departments.
Implications and immediate questions
The appointment of Healey as Chancellor will focus attention on economic policy and public spending choices, while Miliband at the Foreign Office places a seasoned parliamentarian in charge of the UK's external affairs. Wes Streeting’s elevation to Defence Secretary follows his positioning during the leadership contest as a principal rival within the party, now incorporated into the top team.
Further scrutiny will fall on how Burnham’s Cabinet manages divided party currents and delivers on priorities such as energy policy, housing, health services and artificial intelligence governance. The inclusion of a bespoke AI minister signals a departmental priority that will be watched by industry and regulators alike.
Details of the full Cabinet list, as supplied by party sources, set out the ministerial line-up announced on 20 July.
