Andy Burnham has unveiled his top team as Prime Minister, with John Healey replacing Rachel Reeves as Chancellor and Angela Rayner returning to government. Ed Miliband becomes Foreign Secretary, while Shabana Mahmood remains Home Secretary. High-profile departures include Reeves, David Lammy, Liz Kendall, Peter Kyle, and Steve Reed.
New Chancellor: John Healey
In a surprise move, John Healey was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer, replacing Rachel Reeves. Healey, an MP since 1997, resigned as Defence Secretary weeks ago over insufficient defence funding. He has held roles under Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, and Keir Starmer, including housing minister and junior Treasury minister.
Home Secretary: Shabana Mahmood
Shabana Mahmood keeps her post as Home Secretary. She recently introduced a controversial Immigration and Asylum Bill, including charging successful asylum seekers £10,000. A lawyer and Oxford graduate, she chairs Labour's National Executive Committee and was initially Justice Secretary.
Foreign Secretary: Ed Miliband
Ed Miliband, former Labour leader and Energy Secretary, becomes Foreign Secretary. He has been an MP for Doncaster North since 2005 and beat rivals including his brother David and Andy Burnham for the party leadership in 2010.
First Secretary of State: Louise Haigh
Louise Haigh returns to Cabinet as First Secretary of State and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. Previously Transport Secretary under Starmer, she resigned after a 2014 fraud conviction for reporting a mobile phone stolen. She managed Burnham's by-election campaign.
Work and Pensions Secretary: Pat McFadden
Pat McFadden, a Starmer ally, becomes Work and Pensions Secretary. He was shifted to DWP last year after welfare reforms were scrapped. He served as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster from 2024 and held roles under Blair and Brown.
Health Secretary: Yvette Cooper
Yvette Cooper, one of the most experienced Cabinet members, takes on Health. She has held Home Office, Foreign Office, Work and Pensions, and Treasury roles under Brown and Blair. She stood for party leader in 2015.
Housing Secretary: Angela Rayner
Angela Rayner returns as Housing, Communities and Local Government Secretary. Former Deputy PM, she championed the Employment Rights Act and opposed Shabana Mahmood's immigration reforms. She resigned after underpaying stamp duty by £40,000 but was cleared by HMRC.
Education Secretary: Lucy Powell
Lucy Powell, Labour deputy leader, returns to Cabinet as Education Secretary after being sacked by Starmer a year ago. She served as Leader of the House of Commons from July 2024 to September 2025 and has held shadow Cabinet posts.
Business and Science Secretary: Jonathan Reynolds
Jonathan Reynolds returns to Cabinet as Business and Science and Technology Secretary, combining two roles. He served as Business Secretary until September 2025 before becoming chief whip. He previously served in Ed Miliband's and Jeremy Corbyn's shadow Cabinets.
Chief Whip: Anneliese Midgley
Anneliese Midgley, MP for Knowsley since 2024, becomes Chief Whip. A key strategist in the Makerfield by-election, she was Jeremy Corbyn's chief of staff and is secretary of the Trade Union Group of Labour MPs.
Departures
Rachel Reeves announced she is not taking another government role, saying: "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." David Lammy, former Deputy PM and Foreign Secretary, said he is "immensely proud" of achievements including rebuilding EU relations and recognising Palestine. Other departures include Darren Jones, Liz Kendall, Steve Reed, Peter Kyle, and Lord Richard Hermer. Kendall stated the new PM will take the country from "strength to strength." Reed wrote to Burnham: "Serving as the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government has been the honour of my life." Hermer said it has been "the privilege of my life" to serve as attorney general, especially proud of the Hillsborough Law.
