Who will be in the Burnham cabinet?

New UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham's first week in office signalled a shift in focus and style for the centre-left Labour government as he sought a clean break from predecessor Keir Starmer. •

NEW: Bloomberg Saturday read • • Andy Burnham’s first week brought vibes, now he has an incredibly tough six months ahead. Labour MPs and aides say three questions will decide his fate: • • Can he and John Healey produce a genuinely transformational budget that delivers radical change within very challenging fiscal constraints? Can they do it amid headwinds from Trump’s escalating war in Iran? And when things inevitably get bumpy, can Burnham escape the infighting that did for Keir Starmer? • • On all three fronts there are early signs of trouble. • • Even Burnham’s team concede that while he has a grand plan to be the most radical PM in 40 years, there’s little detail behind it. He’s undecided on his headline policies. An ally says his quick ascent to No10 made it hard to plan. Officials fear his tendency to think aloud and people-please means hard conversations are coming and he’ll struggle to let people down. • • Labour MPs and aides say Burnham will live or die by whether the budget can meet his lofty rhetoric without spooking investors, or if the hard choices imposed by market realities mean ambitions have to be scaled back, leaving MPs and voters disappointed. • • Ironically Healey has the largest spending demand: defence spending has to rise to 3% of GDP. Burnham will have other pricey policies, meaning tax rises and more borrowing look certain. The huge task is made even harder by events in Iran, which have sent oil back to $100, pushed borrowing costs higher and mean two interest rate hikes are now fully priced by the end of the year. • • Internal Treasury forecasts show Iran is the central threat to Burnham’s “cost of living government.” It’ll look like a promise broken if inflation and interest rates rise as expected. Senior officials worry the new No10 doesn’t fully grasp the global risks to the UK economy. “You might not be interested in foreign policy, but foreign policy is interested in you,” one says. • • The political danger is a lot of people in Labour who won’t be sympathetic if Burnham gets into choppy waters. The way he came to power and his early decisions on appointments guarantee that. • • Purged Starmerites won’t be sorry to see him fail. Left-wing MPs are also increasingly unhappy, protesting Healey’s appointment, complaining that they’re unrepresented in cabinet and accusing Burnham of appealing to them to win power then turning his back once in office, a charge they often made against Starmer. • • Even in cabinet there are early tensions. Ed Miliband would have rather been chancellor. Louise Haigh may have wanted it to be Shabana Mahmood. Mahmood could have been tempted. Angela Rayner has had much of her previous brief hived off to Haigh. Wes Streeting may not have entirely abandoned his leadership ambitions. • • MPs warn Burnham must consult them on his policy plan and quickly drop the centralised, top-down nature of his operation, which they say goes against his promise of inclusive decision-making. There are already concerns about immigration policy and welfare cuts. • • While most expect the party to pull together initially, Labour officials say they would not underestimate the possibility of multiple factions and cabinet ministers becoming more vocal in their criticisms if Burnham is unable to successfully deliver a generational plan to change Britain in the autumn. • • That’s led some Labour strategists to speculate that Burnham might be tempted to call a snap election later this year before the going gets tough. His allies reject the idea. But he’ll need to find a way to give himself some of the “breathing space” he’s promising Britons, because the next six months are not going to be easy. • • With @ChaplainChloe @EllenAMilligan @LucyGJWhite @Joe_Mayes >>>

I've spoken to some of those with Keir Starmer at The Grafton pub in North London on the day he left office - and while they accept that politics is a tough business - there is some residual anger over the reshuffle. • • They argue that by sacking so many loyalists Andy Burnham has unnecessarily created a faction that could prove a thorn in his side - former chief sec to the PM Darren Jones has already been so. • • There is also a sense that more senior male No 10 staff than female staff had survived in the new regime. Just one of the four great offices of state is now held by a woman, down from three. • • Others, however, tell @peterwalker99 it's obvious that a new PM would want to bring in his own people and that the changes were handled sensitively - with Burnham calling outgoing ministers himself & special advisers given chance to discuss their futures. • • But one warns: "It's less a purge of Starmerites than getting rid of people who were loyal to a Labour leader, while promoting people who were serially disloyal. That’s a dangerous message to send your MPs.”

The latest edition of our podcast The State of It: • • * Fury among Starmer allies over Burnham's 'factional' reshuffle. Sample messages: 'This is spectacularly, spectacularly stupid'/ 'This is factionalism on speed'. • • * Inside Keir Starmer's 'day session' leaving drinks at The Grafton in Kentish Town where the ire grew as ministers were ruthlessly despatched over the course of Monday afternoon. The walls were adorned with photos from Starmer's premiership. Allies wore 'PM solid' T-shirts - a reference to their spreadsheet listing supportive MPs in the dying days • • * Some are particularly angry at Bridget Phillipson's bruising demotion. Her job as education secretary was first offered to Rachel Reeves then given to Lucy Powell. She is now minister for women and equalities • • * The brutal manner of the reshuffle is potentially storing up trouble for the future. 'Keir Starmer never had a faction but Andy Burnham's team are at risk of creating one for him' • • * Darren Jones, former chief sec, has put Burnham on notice after pointing out that VAT cut on electricity bills was unfunded. He and others have nothing to lose. They plan to campaign to retain Labour's reputation for economic competence • • * Andy Burnham is going to have to adjust to the power of his words. He has already had to make clear he is not planning to increase the personal threshold on income or increase the additional rate to 50p. Everything he says matters from here on in • • * Just as it was for Starmer, defence spending could be a defining issue for Burnham. Healey wanted to increase defence spending to 3% by 2030. That is a huge rise that will require difficult choices across the board • • * And that's before we get to adult social care. Burnham wants to apply the 'NHS principle', making it free at the point of use. That would cost £18billion • • * That's before you get to the costs of putting Thames Water into special administration, which could be as much as £2.5billion this year alone • • * It's early days but the scale of some of the broader public spending pledges we're looking at would need a huge reconfiguration of the public finances • •

NEW: Dan Jarvis back as Security Minister. James Murray and Lucy Rigby also get (non cabinet) jobs. • • The King has been pleased to approve the following appointments: • • •Rt Hon Dan Jarvis MBE MP as Minister of State (Security Minister) jointly in the Home Office and the Cabinet Office • •Kirsty McNeill MP as Minister of State in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office • •Rt Hon James Murray MP as Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General • •Rt Hon Lucy Rigby KC MP as Minister of State in HM Treasury (Economic Secretary to the Treasury) • •Rt Hon Anna Turley MP as Minister of State in the Home Office • •Catherine McKinnell MP as Minister of State in the Ministry of Justice • •Katie White OBE MP as Minister of State in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero • •Andrew Western MP as Minister of State in the Department for Work and Pensions • •Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson DBE MP as Minister of State in the Department of Health and Social Care • •Florence Eshalomi MP as Minister of State in the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government • •Kate Dearden MP as Minister of State in the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade • •Chris McDonald MP as Minister of State in the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade • •Rt Hon Ian Murray MP as Minister of State in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport • •Emma Hardy MP as Minister of State in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs • •Emma Foody MP as Vice Chamberlain of HM Household (Government Whip) • •Andy Slaughter MP as Solicitor General • The following Ministers have been re-appointed: • • •Stephen Doughty MP will remain as Minister of State in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office • •Sarah Jones MP will remain as Minister of State in the Home Office • •Rt Hon Lord Hanson of Flint will remain as Minister of State in the Home Office • •Sarah Sackman KC MP will remain as Minister of State in the Ministry of Justice • •Luke Pollard MP will remain as Minister of State in the Ministry of Defence • •Lord Coaker will remain as Minister of State in the Ministry of Defence • •Michael Shanks MP will remain as Minister of State in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero • •Georgia Gould OBE MP will remain as Minister of State in the Department for Education • •Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP will remain as Minister of State in the Department for Work and Pensions • •Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Malvern will remain as Minister of State in the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Education • •Baroness Sherlock OBE will remain as Minister of State in the Department for Work and Pensions • •Karin Smyth MP will remain as Minister of State in the Department for Health and Social Care • •Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill CBE will remain as Minister of State in the Department for Transport • •Rt Hon Lord Kennedy of Southwark will remain as Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentleman at Arms (Lords Chief Whip) • •Rt Hon Sir Mark Tami MP will remain as Treasurer of His Majesty’s Household (Deputy Chief Whip) • •Gen Kitchen MP will remain as Comptroller of HM Household (Government Whip) • •Baroness Smith of Cluny KC will remain as HM Advocate General for Scotland • • The following Ministers have left the Government: • • •Rachel Blake MP • •Sir Nicholas Dakin MP • •Rt Hon Baroness Chapman of Darlington • •Lord Livermore • •Lord Stockwood • •Lord Whitehead CBE • •Lord Vallance • •Lord Timpson OBE

NEW: Dan Jarvis back as Security Minister. James Murray and Lucy Rigby also get (non cabinet) jobs. • • The King has been pleased to approve the following appointments: • • •Rt Hon Dan Jarvis MBE MP as Minister of State (Security Minister) jointly in the Home Office and the Cabinet Office • •Kirsty McNeill MP as Minister of State in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office • •Rt Hon James Murray MP as Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General • •Rt Hon Lucy Rigby KC MP as Minister of State in HM Treasury (Economic Secretary to the Treasury) • •Rt Hon Anna Turley MP as Minister of State in the Home Office • •Catherine McKinnell MP as Minister of State in the Ministry of Justice • •Katie White OBE MP as Minister of State in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero • •Andrew Western MP as Minister of State in the Department for Work and Pensions • •Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson DBE MP as Minister of State in the Department of Health and Social Care • •Florence Eshalomi MP as Minister of State in the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government • •Kate Dearden MP as Minister of State in the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade • •Chris McDonald MP as Minister of State in the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade • •Rt Hon Ian Murray MP as Minister of State in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport • •Emma Hardy MP as Minister of State in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs • •Emma Foody MP as Vice Chamberlain of HM Household (Government Whip) • •Andy Slaughter MP as Solicitor General • The following Ministers have been re-appointed: • • •Stephen Doughty MP will remain as Minister of State in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office • •Sarah Jones MP will remain as Minister of State in the Home Office • •Rt Hon Lord Hanson of Flint will remain as Minister of State in the Home Office • •Sarah Sackman KC MP will remain as Minister of State in the Ministry of Justice • •Luke Pollard MP will remain as Minister of State in the Ministry of Defence • •Lord Coaker will remain as Minister of State in the Ministry of Defence • •Michael Shanks MP will remain as Minister of State in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero • •Georgia Gould OBE MP will remain as Minister of State in the Department for Education • •Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP will remain as Minister of State in the Department for Work and Pensions • •Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Malvern will remain as Minister of State in the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Education • •Baroness Sherlock OBE will remain as Minister of State in the Department for Work and Pensions • •Karin Smyth MP will remain as Minister of State in the Department for Health and Social Care • •Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill CBE will remain as Minister of State in the Department for Transport • •Rt Hon Lord Kennedy of Southwark will remain as Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentleman at Arms (Lords Chief Whip) • •Rt Hon Sir Mark Tami MP will remain as Treasurer of His Majesty’s Household (Deputy Chief Whip) • •Gen Kitchen MP will remain as Comptroller of HM Household (Government Whip) • •Baroness Smith of Cluny KC will remain as HM Advocate General for Scotland • • The following Ministers have left the Government: • • •Rachel Blake MP • •Sir Nicholas Dakin MP • •Rt Hon Baroness Chapman of Darlington • •Lord Livermore • •Lord Stockwood • •Lord Whitehead CBE • •Lord Vallance • •Lord Timpson OBE

NEW: Dan Jarvis back as Security Minister. James Murray and Lucy Rigby also get (non cabinet) jobs. • • The King has been pleased to approve the following appointments: • • •Rt Hon Dan Jarvis MBE MP as Minister of State (Security Minister) jointly in the Home Office and the Cabinet Office • •Kirsty McNeill MP as Minister of State in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office • •Rt Hon James Murray MP as Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Paymaster General • •Rt Hon Lucy Rigby KC MP as Minister of State in HM Treasury (Economic Secretary to the Treasury) • •Rt Hon Anna Turley MP as Minister of State in the Home Office • •Catherine McKinnell MP as Minister of State in the Ministry of Justice • •Katie White OBE MP as Minister of State in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero • •Andrew Western MP as Minister of State in the Department for Work and Pensions • •Rt Hon Dame Diana Johnson DBE MP as Minister of State in the Department of Health and Social Care • •Florence Eshalomi MP as Minister of State in the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government • •Kate Dearden MP as Minister of State in the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade • •Chris McDonald MP as Minister of State in the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade • •Rt Hon Ian Murray MP as Minister of State in the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport • •Emma Hardy MP as Minister of State in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs • •Emma Foody MP as Vice Chamberlain of HM Household (Government Whip) • •Andy Slaughter MP as Solicitor General • The following Ministers have been re-appointed: • • •Stephen Doughty MP will remain as Minister of State in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office • •Sarah Jones MP will remain as Minister of State in the Home Office • •Rt Hon Lord Hanson of Flint will remain as Minister of State in the Home Office • •Sarah Sackman KC MP will remain as Minister of State in the Ministry of Justice • •Luke Pollard MP will remain as Minister of State in the Ministry of Defence • •Lord Coaker will remain as Minister of State in the Ministry of Defence • •Michael Shanks MP will remain as Minister of State in the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero • •Georgia Gould OBE MP will remain as Minister of State in the Department for Education • •Rt Hon Sir Stephen Timms MP will remain as Minister of State in the Department for Work and Pensions • •Rt Hon Baroness Smith of Malvern will remain as Minister of State in the Department for Work and Pensions and the Department for Education • •Baroness Sherlock OBE will remain as Minister of State in the Department for Work and Pensions • •Karin Smyth MP will remain as Minister of State in the Department for Health and Social Care • •Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill CBE will remain as Minister of State in the Department for Transport • •Rt Hon Lord Kennedy of Southwark will remain as Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentleman at Arms (Lords Chief Whip) • •Rt Hon Sir Mark Tami MP will remain as Treasurer of His Majesty’s Household (Deputy Chief Whip) • •Gen Kitchen MP will remain as Comptroller of HM Household (Government Whip) • •Baroness Smith of Cluny KC will remain as HM Advocate General for Scotland • • The following Ministers have left the Government: • • •Rachel Blake MP • •Sir Nicholas Dakin MP • •Rt Hon Baroness Chapman of Darlington • •Lord Livermore • •Lord Stockwood • •Lord Whitehead CBE • •Lord Vallance • •Lord Timpson OBE

Exclusive: John Healey is poised to revive Britain’s bid to join an international banking scheme in order to boost defence spending, after his predecessor Rachel Reeves refused to back it. • The new Chancellor quit as defence secretary last month over the failure of Reeves and the Treasury to find enough money to pay for rearmament - a move widely thought to have been the final straw that forced Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation. • But The i Paper has learned that discussion about joining the Defence, Security and Resilience Bank (DSRB) – a Canadian-led scheme that helps member states finance defence projects at lower cost – took place within Andy Burnham’s transition team before he took office. • Now Healey, who was Burnham’s surprise pick for Chancellor, • is expected to pick up the baton after it emerged that he had privately pushed for the UK join the DSRB when he was defence secretary. • A source familiar with the discussions said they expected the new Government to “move on it”. • In his resignation letter Healey pointed to “credible ways” of raising extra money, including working multinationally – a reference widely read as pointing to the DSRB. Treasury officials at the time countered that Healey had never formally submitted a funding request for UK membership. • The Chancellor is understood to have viewed the bank as a way to help close the defence funding gap while also benefiting British defence firms. • •

The new British Prime Minister, Labour's Andy Burnham, instructed his ministers to explore "all possible avenues" to reduce the high cost of living. This directive was set during his first Cabinet meeting after taking office, replacing Keir Starmer. Burnham emphasized the urgency of easing the economic pressure on the population and offering concrete measures to restore hope to citizens that the country's financial situation is improving.

Live: Keir Starmer’s allies have questioned Andy Burnham’s pledge to end factional infighting after he removed or demoted more than half of the outgoing prime ministe

Exclusively in my column this evening: • • - The Manc-takeover. There are now more Cabinet ministers with Manchester worker bee tattoos (3) then there are Old Etonians (1) • • - Labour grumbling that although Burnham has appointed a record number of women to the Cabinet, outnumbering men for the first time at 12-11, he only gave one, Shabana Mahmood, a position in one of the Great Offices of State • • - How Louise Haigh is the most powerful woman in government • • - How Darren Jones, wearing his Bermuda shorts, made Burnham make clear his commitment to fiscal discipline by questioning whether his energy VAT cut stacks up • • - Has Burnham's brutal reshuffle created a faction of Starmerites ready to attack? • •

Andy Burnham enters Downing Street as British Prime Minister... and Keir Starmer delivers his farewell address, expressing his pride in his achievements.

EXCLUSIVE: Keir Starmer’s allies accuse Andy Burnham of appointing a divisive cabinet designed to reward those who brought him down. • • One says it immediately breaks Burnham’s pledge to be inclusive and run a broad church. Another says it’s dangerously hubristic and creates enemies who will come back to haunt him. A third says there is no policy justification for the top appointments. • • Burnham’s allies insist the cabinet represents all factions and regions. But in a striking response some of Starmer’s allies are saying men have got the top jobs and that it cements a north-south divide. • • While some see John Healey as a safer pick as chancellor than a left-winger, a Starmer ally says he’s been misunderstood and he’s actually the fiscally loosest possible choice because he wants a massive increase in defence spending. • • There is a lot of negative briefing about Wes Streeting, an arch anti-Starmer plotter, over his lack of defence experience. Former soldier Dan Jarvis losing his job is particularly upsetting people. • • Ed Miliband, another key plotter, as foreign secretary is causing a big reaction. Some are confused because he faces a very difficult task winning round the Trump administration that openly dislikes him. And it’s angering those who were appalled by his infamous decision to block action against Assad. • • There are also early signs of discontent on the left over Shabana Mahmood’s reappointment as home secretary. Lots of Burnham supporters on the left abstained on the immigration bill last week assuming she would be moved. They will want her to water down her more hardline immigration policies. • • Some on the left are also disappointed Miliband wasn’t made chancellor, saying Healey will want to focus spending on defence and is hardly a transformational pick otherwise. • •

EXCLUSIVE: Keir Starmer’s allies accuse Andy Burnham of appointing a divisive cabinet designed to reward those who brought him down. • • One says it immediately breaks Burnham’s pledge to be inclusive and run a broad church. Another says it’s dangerously hubristic and creates enemies who will come back to haunt him. A third says there is no policy justification for the top appointments. • • Burnham’s allies insist the cabinet represents all factions and regions. But in a striking response some of Starmer’s allies are saying men have got the top jobs and that it cements a north-south divide. • • While some see John Healey as a safer pick as chancellor than a left-winger, a Starmer ally says he’s been misunderstood and he’s actually the fiscally loosest possible choice because he wants a massive increase in defence spending. • • There is a lot of negative briefing about Wes Streeting, an arch anti-Starmer plotter, over his lack of defence experience. Former soldier Dan Jarvis losing his job is particularly upsetting people. • • Ed Miliband, another key plotter, as foreign secretary is causing a big reaction. Some are confused because he faces a very difficult task winning round the Trump administration that openly dislikes him. And it’s angering those who were appalled by his infamous decision to block action against Assad. • • There are also early signs of discontent on the left over Shabana Mahmood’s reappointment as home secretary. Lots of Burnham supporters on the left abstained on the immigration bill last week assuming she would be moved. They will want her to water down her more hardline immigration policies. • • Some on the left are also disappointed Miliband wasn’t made chancellor, saying Healey will want to focus spending on defence and is hardly a transformational pick otherwise. • •

From government to the pub — Starmer decided to have a beer the evening after leaving the post of prime minister. A few hours after his farewell speech and handing over the keys, he was spotted in the company of assistants at the bar. In the morning, he said goodbye to Larry the cat, shook hands with Charles III, and only afterward celebrated with his sleeves rolled up. Now he can relax. [in reply to: Andy Burnham has taken office as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He received a mandate from Charles III to form a government. What is known about the new prime minister: He is 56 years old. He was born in the northwest of England to a Catholic family. He became interested in politics early, joining the Labour Party at the age of 14. He played cricket, rugby, and football at school and university. As a teenager, he worked as a newspaper boy, in a supermarket, and in a pub. He is married to Marie-France van Geel, a Dutch woman he met while studying at Cambridge. They married in 2000. The couple have three children. In May 2017, he won the Greater Manchester mayoral election. This summer, a poll showed that 59% of Labour Party members supported him and only 37% supported Keir Starmer. With Burnham coming to power, relations between London and Moscow are unlikely to change – he supports the general course of helping Ukraine and criticizing Russia. ]

Excluding those close to his predecessor Keir Starmer, the new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham announces his new cabinet.

Wes Streeting has become the UK's Defence Minister in the government of the new Prime Minister Burnham. This is reported by Sky News. Before that, he headed the country's Ministry of Health. Commenting on his appointment, he assured that he would "provide the Armed Forces with the necessary resources". [in reply to: Ed Miliband has become the new UK Foreign Secretary. This is reported by Sky News. He previously held the position of Energy Secretary. It is noted that Miliband was initially considered the main contender for the position of Finance Minister, but instead he headed the Foreign Ministry. In addition, the current Home Secretary Shabana Mahmud will retain her position.]

This is a huge disappointment. Day one of the new Andy Burnham government, and new Business secretary Jonathan Reynolds declines to come on @GBNEWS to discuss a cut to energy bills which will help our viewers. • • New Secretary of State for Business Jonathan Reynolds broadcast round: Sky Mornings (7.15 a.m.) … BBC Breakfast (7.30 a.m.) … LBC (7.50 a.m.) … Today (8.10 a.m.) … Good Morning Britain (8.35 a.m.). @politico

Breaking: • • Darren Jones, who was sacked yesterday as part of his purge of Starmer loyalists, points out that Andy Burnham’s pledge to scrap VAT on energy bills is effectively unfunded • • Burnham has said that the money will come from savings that would have been made to pay for digital ID, which he has scrapped • • But Jones say those savings are yet to be identified • • The inevitable result of yesterday’s purge of Starmer loyalists - Burnham has created some potentially powerful critics on his own backbenches

Darren Jones, who was sacked by Andy Burnham in his first reshuffle, suggests new PM’s energy bill plan isn’t funded…

Breaking: • • Darren Jones, who Keir Starmer sacked yesterday as part of his purge of Starmer loyalists, points out that Andy Burnham’s pledge to scrap VAT on energy bills is effectively unfunded • • Burnham has said that the money will come from savings that would have been made to pay for digital ID, which he has scrapped • • But Jones say those savings are yet to be identified • • The inevitable result of yesterday’s purge of Starmer loyalists - Burnham has created some potentially powerful critics on his own backbenches

Wes Streeting leads UK Ministry of Defence and promises unwavering support for Ukraine New Prime Minister Andy Burnham has appointed former Health Minister Wes Streeting as Defence Secretary. He has promised to provide the British armed forces with the necessary resources and support international allies, "especially Ukraine". Streeting replaces Dan Jarvis, who had been in charge of the department since June 11 after John Healy resigned over a dispute over insufficient funding for the army. In Burnham's new government, Healy was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer. Streeting left the government in May after losing confidence in Keir Starmer and was preparing to fight for the leadership of the Labour Party. However, in June he refused to participate and supported Burnham's candidacy. Recall that the day before, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had his first conversation with the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Andy Burnham. Add News.LIVE as a reliable news source on Google

Wes Streeting leads UK Ministry of Defence and promises unwavering support for Ukraine New Prime Minister Andy Burnham has appointed former Health Minister Wes Streeting as Defence Secretary. He has promised to provide the British armed forces with the necessary resources and support international allies, "especially Ukraine". Streeting replaces Dan Jarvis, who had been in charge of the department since June 11 after John Healy resigned over a dispute over insufficient funding for the army. In Burnham's new government, Healy was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer. Streeting left the government in May after losing confidence in Keir Starmer and was preparing to fight for the leadership of the Labour Party. However, in June he refused to participate and supported Burnham's candidacy. Recall that the day before, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had his first conversation with the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Andy Burnham. Add News.LIVE as a reliable news source on Google

Live: Darren Jones: Burnham’s first tax cut is unfunded

For those querying the credentials of new defence secretary Wes Streeting, who has replaced war hero Dan Jarvis, sources close to him point out: • • * He recently spoke in a House of Commons debate on defence readiness. • • * As health secretary he launched a new programme to help NHS staff identify patients with armed forces backgrounds and provide more targeted, personalised care for veterans. • • * As a backbench MP, he enrolled on the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme and spent time with the Royal Navy and Royal Marines.

Former Health Secretary Wes Streeting has become the UK's Defence Secretary in Andy Burnham's government. Commenting on his appointment, he said he would "provide our armed forces with the resources they need" subscribe

The British Ministry of Defence has been appointed the head of the former Minister of Health. 43-year-old Wes Streeting has been appointed head of the military department in the government of the new Prime Minister Andy Burnham. His card has already been updated on the government website. Streeting headed the Ministry of Health from July 2024 to May 2026. After leaving the government, he himself was a candidate for the post of Prime Minister before supporting Burnham. [in reply to: Andy Burnham has taken office as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He received a mandate from Charles III to form a government. What is known about the new Prime Minister: He is 56 years old. He was born in the north-west of England to a Catholic family. He became interested in politics early, joining the Labour Party at the age of 14. He played cricket, rugby, and football at school and university. As a teenager, he worked as a newspaper boy, in a supermarket, and in a pub. He is married to Marie-France van Geel, a Dutch woman he met while studying at Cambridge. They married in 2000. The couple have three children. In May 2017, he won the Greater Manchester mayoral election. This summer, a poll showed that 59% of Labour Party members supported him and only 37% supported Keir Starmer. With Burnham coming to power, relations between London and Moscow are unlikely to change – he supports the general course of helping Ukraine and criticizing Russia. ]

Wes Streeting is the new defence secretary

Live: Heidi Alexander stays on at Transport

So, where we are now, compiled by our great newsdesk • • Andy Burnham has finished for today appointing his cabinet. He made 27 appointments: • 1. John Healey - Chancellor • 2. Ed Miliband - Foreign Sec • 3. Shabana Mahmood - Home Sec • 4. Wes Streeting - Defence Sec • 5. Alex Norris - Justice Sec • 6. Yvette Cooper - Health Sec • 7. Pat McFadden - Work & Pensions Sec • 8. Louise Haigh - CDL + First Secretary of State • 9. Lucy Powell - Education Sec • 10. Miatta Fahnbulleh - Energy Sec • 11. Angela Rayner - Housing Sec • 12. Jonathan Reynolds - Business Sec • 13. Heidi Alexander - Transport Sec • 14. Angela Eagle - Environment Sec • 15. Lisa Nandy - Culture Sec • 16. Chris Bryant - Northern Ireland Sec • 17. Douglas Alexander - Scotland Sec • 18. Stephen Kinnock - Wales Sec • 19. Anneliese Midgley - Chief Whip • 20. Baroness Smith - Lords Leader • 21. Alan Campbell - Commons Leader • 22. Bridget Phillipson - Equalities Minister • 23. Emma Reynolds - Chief Sec to the Treasury • 24. Ellie Reeves - Attorney General • 25. Kanishka Narayan - AI Minister • 26. Hamish Falconer - Intergovernmental Relations Minister • 27. Matt Pennycook - Housing Minister • • 15 new additions to the cabinet. • 12 members of Starmer's cabinet were kept on, with 7 staying in the same post, and 5 getting new jobs. • 3 new positions that will attend cabinet (AI minister, Intergovernmental Relations Minister and Housing Minister) • 11 members of Starmer's cabinet are confirmed to have left their government (All were officially confirmed by No10 except for Jenny Chapman, who tweeted herself) • • Phone calls: • 1. Donald Trump • 2. Volodymyr Zelenskyy • 3. Ursula von der Leyen • 4. Emmanuel Macron • 5. Mark Rutte • 6. Friedrich Merz • 7. Antonio Costa