Andy Burnham wasted no time stamping his authority after being sworn in as PM and removed most of Sir Keir Starmer’s Cabinet, with only three ministers keeping their jobs
Angela Rayner sensationally returned to government as Andy butchered Sir Keir Starmer’s top team hours after taking over in No10. Rachel Reeves was the biggest casualty of the new PM’s Cabinet bloodbath as a string of senior ministers were shown the door.
Mr Burnham wasted no time stamping his authority on Government and made former deputy PM Rayner his new Housing Secretary. Former defence secretary John Healey replaced Ms Reeves as Chancellor, while Ed Miliband becomes Foreign Secretary.
Shabana Mahmood remains Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper becomes Health Secretary and Pat McFadden remains as Work and Pensions Secretary. Louise Haigh becomes First Secretary of State and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
Deputy PM David Lammy, Housing Secretary Steve Reed, Business Secretary Peter Kyle, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall and Attorney General Lord Hermer all lost their jobs.
Ms Reeves, Britain’s first female Chancellor, reportedly snubbed an offer to become Defence Secretary. But she vowed she would continue to back the Government despite her dramatic exit.
She wrote on X: “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.”
She was later seen laughing with aides as she and the ousted PM Sir Keir Starmer headed to a pub to drown their sorrows. Sir Keir was spotted clutching a pint while his Ms Reeves grins delightedly between gulps of wine.
Mr Burnham, who was cheered into No10 by Everton great Peter Reid, spent much of Monday evening putting together his own team.
Bridget Phillipson will remain a member of Cabinet as Minister for Women and Equalities in Andy Burnham’s Government, but is no longer education secretary. Meanwhile, Lisa Nandy will remain as Culture Secretary.
Wes Streeting has been appointed Defence Secretary, Alex Norris is the new Justice Secretary, Dame Angela Eagle is the new Environment Secretary, and Miatta Fahnbulleh has been appointed Energy Secretary, Downing Street said.
Former health secretary Wes Streeting, who resigned from Sir Keir Starmer’s government, had been seen as a potential leadership candidate until he backed Andy Burnham.
The cabinet shake-up comes just weeks after Mr Healey quit as Sir Keir Starmer’s defence secretary over a furious funding row. One Labour veteran said Mr Burnham could now tell him: “You wanted the money for defence? Great. Go find it.”
No10 sources said Mr Burnham wanted an “experienced, trusted” figure and Mr Healey shared the PM’s outlook on a number of key issues, it was reported on Monday.
The pair were said to agree on the need to maintain economic stability and the current fiscal rules as well as reindustrialisation, working on the cost-of-living crisis and backing British jobs to drive growth.
And Ms Rayner returns to government 10 months after she quit Keir Starmer’s administration following a tearful admission she failed to pay correct stamp duty on a new flat.
Earlier, Mr Burnham promised the biggest change to British politics in 40 years as he became Prime Minister. Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram said he was “unbelievably proud” after friend Andy Burnham’s first speech as Prime Minister.
Mr Rotheram, who co-authored Mr Burnham’s book Head North, said: “He’s been like a little brother to me, it’s a brilliant moment. There’s some great bits (of policy).
“I think when you see what the plan is, then most people will go, ‘I see that. So that’s why you want to do it a different way’. It’s taken the learning from being a metro mayor and then putting that into practice. That’s the idea.”
Mr Burnham’s beloved Everton Football Club also congratulated him on becoming PM. Posting on X, alongside a photo of Mr Burnham and manager David Moyes from his previous stint in charge, the club said: “A Toffee at No.10.
“Congratulations to Andy Burnham on becoming the UK’s Prime Minister. A lifelong Evertonian, long-time Hillsborough Law campaigner, regular SFoodbanks donor and @EITC fundraiser. Wishing you nothing but the best in your new role, @andyburnham”.
Mr Burnham becomes the second global leader to publicly declare a love for the Merseyside club, with Canadian PM Mark Carney also an Everton fan.
Mr Carney said: “I look forward to working with Prime Minister Burnham to build greater security, stability, and prosperity on both sides of the Atlantic.”