Andy Burnham has appointed his first cabinet as prime minister, rewarding loyalists who supported his takeover bid while ousting allies of former PM Sir Keir Starmer. The reshuffle marks a decisive break from the previous administration, with Burnham vowing his arrival in power would be a 'circuit breaker' moment for the UK.
Key appointments include a new Chancellor of the Exchequer and Home Secretary, though specific names were not detailed in the announcement. Burnham had promised to draw his top team from all wings of the party to create a more inclusive government, but the clearout has been described as brutal, particularly for those on the right of the party or close to Starmer.
Among the notable changes, several Starmer-era ministers have lost their jobs, making way for figures who were instrumental in Burnham's rise. The new PM delivered his first Downing Street speech, highlighting six key priorities for his government, though these were not elaborated upon in the official statement.
The reshuffle is seen as a consolidation of Burnham's power within the Labour Party, signalling a shift away from the centrist policies of his predecessor. Critics argue the purge risks alienating moderate voices, but Burnham's team insists it is necessary to deliver the change the country voted for.
