John Healey has been appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer, Ed Miliband has become Foreign Secretary, and Shabana Mahmood remains Home Secretary in a sweeping Cabinet reshuffle by Prime Minister Andy Burnham that saw numerous loyalists of his predecessor Sir Keir Starmer removed from their posts.
Key Appointments and Departures
Healey, who recently resigned as Defence Secretary over a military funding dispute, replaces Rachel Reeves at the Treasury. His appointment surprised Westminster, but he is regarded as a safe pair of hands and a Labour frontbench stalwart. Miliband moves from the Energy Department to lead the Foreign Office, while Mahmood retains her role at the Home Office.
Louise Haigh, who stepped down as Transport Secretary under Starmer in 2024 and has been instrumental in planning Burnham's rise, becomes First Secretary of State, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and Minister for the Cabinet Office. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden, and Yvette Cooper—who was replaced by Miliband at the Foreign Office—were seen entering Downing Street, suggesting potential new roles.
Reeves and Other Departures
Rachel Reeves lost her Treasury brief and reportedly turned down an offer from Burnham for another senior government role, though allies declined to specify the position. She wrote on X that serving as the first female chancellor was “the privilege of my life,” adding: “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. I wish the very best of luck to my successor, Andy and his Cabinet.”
David Lammy, who served as Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary under Starmer, announced his departure on social media, stating he “would have been proud to continue serving in Cabinet. But a new Prime Minister is entitled to build his own team.” Steve Reed, a key Starmer loyalist who held the Environment and Housing portfolios, expressed disappointment in a letter to Burnham, saying: “Keir Starmer showed loyalty to me by appointing me to his Cabinet. I make no apology for returning that loyalty. It’s what is expected of functioning teams, and I hope those who did not show loyalty to Keir will now show it to you.”
Further Changes
Other high-profile departures include Peter Kyle (Business Secretary), Liz Kendall (Technology Secretary), Lord Hermer (Attorney General), Jo Stevens (Wales Secretary), and Darren Jones (Chief Secretary to the Treasury). Hilary Benn (Northern Ireland Secretary), Baroness Jenny Chapman (Foreign Office minister), and Nick Thomas-Symonds (EU relations minister) also left. Several junior ministers resigned earlier on Monday, including Prisons Minister Lord James Timpson and Science Minister Lord Patrick Vallance.
Concerns Over Stability
Dave Penman, general secretary of the FDA union representing senior civil servants, warned of “political turmoil” from the reshuffle. He said on X: “The time it takes to get ministers up to speed. The changing priorities and need to go over issues from scratch that had taken months to get close to a decision. Less than 12 months ago over 50% of ministers left govt or changed portfolio. Now there’ll be change again with the potential for Machinery of Govt changes thrown in for good measure.”
