Who's in the cabinet?
BBC News 2026-07-20 18:31:15
Context: Andy Burnham has taken office as Prime Minister after Sir Keir Starmer's resignation, winning the backing of 379 of Labour's 403 MPs. Burnham has started building his new cabinet, pledging to shift power away from Whitehall and introduce greater public control of the water and energy sectors. He has also vowed to build more council houses while keeping Labour's election pledge not to raise the main rates of income tax, VAT, or National Insurance.
Key Facts
- Andy Burnham was born in Aintree in 1970 and was inspired by the miners' strike to join the Labour Party in his teens, first becoming an MP in 2001 and later serving as Greater Manchester mayor after leaving Parliament.
- John Healey has returned to the cabinet as chancellor, despite previously resigning as defence secretary and criticizing the government's defence spending plans in his resignation letter.
- Louise Haigh has become chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, first secretary of state, and Cabinet Office minister, and will run Number 10 North, a new unit aimed at redistributing power and supporting regions.
- Ed Miliband is the new foreign secretary, moving from the energy and net zero brief, and has spoken out against those urging the government to drop its net zero ambitions, citing social justice and national security.
- Shabana Mahmood remains home secretary, a position she has held since September 2025, and is responsible for immigration, national security, and policing in England and Wales, having previously overseen the party's Batley & Spen by-election win in 2021.