Carole Malone and Benjamin Butterworth engaged in a heated exchange on GB News on Monday evening, July 20, 2026, over Prime Minister Andy Burnham's decision to appoint Wes Streeting as Defence Secretary. The Daily Express columnist and the Jeremy Vine contributor argued live on air, with Malone ultimately shutting down Butterworth's repeated interruptions.
Malone Cites Military Criticism of Streeting
Malone referenced Lord Richard Dannatt, former head of the British Army, who had accused Streeting of knowing "the square root of nothing about defence." She asserted that members of the military would "have their heads in their hands" over the appointment. Butterworth immediately countered, "They will not. Not at all." Malone retorted that Dannatt would know more about the situation than Butterworth, adding, "This will be catastrophic for the military. I heard him talking yesterday on the radio!"
Butterworth Interrupted, Then Shut Down
As the debate escalated, Butterworth interrupted Malone again. "Well, we've all heard you talking enough by now," he declared. Malone responded sharply, "Really? I think we'll find that social media probably says you've said enough, but anyway." Butterworth then defended the appointment, calling Streeting "one of the brightest stars of Labour politics of his generation" and "one of the most moderate leaders of Labour." He concluded that Burnham had made "incredibly sensible decisions" in forming his cabinet.
Burnham's Cabinet Appointments
Following Sir Keir Starmer's resignation, Andy Burnham became Prime Minister on Monday, July 20, 2026, and announced several cabinet changes. John Healy, former Defence Secretary, replaced Rachel Reeves as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Angela Rayner was appointed Housing Secretary, Ed Miliband became Foreign Secretary, Shabana Mahmood took over as Home Secretary, and Alex Norris was named Justice Secretary.
Streeting Responds to New Role
Wes Streeting acknowledged his new role on social media platform X, stating: "Keeping our country safe is the first duty of the government. It is an honour to take on the role of Defence Secretary. We'll ensure our armed forces have the resources they need and stand steadfast alongside our international allies, especially Ukraine. Let's get to work."
