{"id":52680,"date":"2026-07-20T18:52:55","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T18:52:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nsemgh.com\/?p=52680"},"modified":"2026-07-20T18:52:59","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T18:52:59","slug":"uk-politicsburnham-picks-cabinet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nsemgh.com\/2026\/07\/20\/uk-politicsburnham-picks-cabinet\/","title":{"rendered":"UK Politics:Burnham picks cabinet"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

There really are quite a few inside No 10 at the moment. It feels inevitable that a slew of appointments are going to be announced at the same time shortly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Bridget<\/a>
Bridget Phillipson walks on Downing Street after Britain\u2019s newly appointed prime minister, Andy Burnham, took office on 20 July 2026. Photograph: Temilade Adelaja\/Reuters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Lucy<\/a>
Lucy Powell arrives in Downing Street. Photograph: Yui Mok\/PA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Support the Guardian<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2026 we have a small favour to ask.<\/strong> Tens of millions have placed their trust in the Guardian\u2019s fearless journalism since we started publishing more than 200 years ago, turning to us in moments of crisis, uncertainty, solidarity and hope. More than 1.5 million supporters, from 180 countries, now power us financially \u2013 keeping us open to all, and fiercely independent. Will you make a difference and support us too?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Anneliese Midgley<\/strong>, the MP who emerged as one of Burnham\u2019s closest allies during the Makerfield by-election campagin, has just gone into No 10.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Anneliese<\/a>
Anneliese Midgley walks on Downing Street after Andy Burnham took office. Photograph: Temilade Adelaja\/Reuters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Shabana Mahmood<\/strong> said the post of home secretary is \u201cthe best job in the business\u201d, after Andy Burnham kept her in the role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a post on X, Mahmood said she would continue with immigration reform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She said: \u201cIt is an honour to remain as Home Secretary in Andy Burnham\u2019s cabinet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI may be biased, but it\u2019s the best job in the business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have begun the work of major reform, to make our streets safer and our immigration system fair for all. Now let\u2019s finish the job.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New chancellor John Healey<\/strong> said it is the \u201cgreatest privilege\u201d to take on the role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a statement posted on X, he said: \u201cIt is the greatest privilege to be appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer by the Prime Minister.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTogether, we will build a new economy, build new hope and advance the working people of this country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTime to get on with the job.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chief whip Jonathan Reynolds<\/strong> is the latest to enter No 10 to meet with Burnham and his team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He has been mooted in the press for a move back to business secretary \u2013 a role he was reportedly loathe to give up in the first place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Jonathan<\/a>
Jonathan Reynolds arrives in Downing Street. Photograph: Yui Mok\/PA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Former deputy prime minister Angela Rayner<\/strong> has gone into No 10.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She has widely been expected to make a comeback in a big cabinet role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Angela<\/a>
Angela Rayner arrives at Downing Street. Photograph: Victoria Jones\/Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The secretary of state for culture, media and sport Lisa Nandy<\/strong> has just entered No 10.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There have been rumours she could be moved to the housing brief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Culture<\/a>
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy arrives in Downing Street, London. Photograph: Yui Mok\/PA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Louise Haigh appointed first secretary of state<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As expected, Louise Haigh<\/strong> has been named as Andy Burnham\u2019s first secretary of state, chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and minister for the Cabinet Office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Haigh left her post as transport secretary under Keir Starmer in 2024 and has been planning Burnham\u2019s ascent to power since last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Louise<\/a>
Louise Haigh arrives in Downing Street on July 20, 2026 in London, England. Photograph: Ryan Jenkinson\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The former foreign secretary Yvette Cooper<\/strong> has also entered No 10 \u2013 shortly before Ed Miliband<\/strong> was appointed to that role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More on her future as we get it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Yvette<\/a>
Yvette Cooper, former British Foreign Secretary arrives for talks with new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham at 10 Downing Street in London, Britain, 20 July 2026. Photograph: Neil Hall\/EPA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Shabana Mahmood to continue as home secretary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Shabana Mahmood<\/strong> will remain in her role as home secretary, it has been confirmed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Home<\/a>
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood (R) arrives for talks with new British Prime Minister Andy Burnham at 10 Downing Street in London, Britain, 20 July 2026. Photograph: Andy Rain\/EPA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Ed Miliband named foreign secretary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ed Miliband<\/strong> has been named foreign secretary in Andy Burnham\u2019s cabinet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Ed<\/a>
Ed Miliband arrives in Downing Street on July 20, 2026 in London, England. Photograph: Ryan Jenkinson\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There really are quite a few inside No 10 at the moment. It feels inevitable that a slew of appointments are going to be announced at the same time shortly. Support the Guardian \u2026 we have a small favour to ask. Tens of millions have placed their trust in the Guardian\u2019s fearless journalism since we […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":52681,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_post_source_name":"theguardian","_post_source_url":"https:\/\/theguardian.com","footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[4836,13172,5717,5307,5268,3782,1425,8440,3513,11337,11606,6718,685,5196,911,1258,10427,3577,192,2698,11715,6094,5139,5205,8331,2830,3684,9683,278,11973,5424,3174,5278,10716,12508,11325,12605,6348,585,3954,10415,36,10353],"class_list":["post-52680","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news","tag-access","tag-andy-burnham","tag-billionaire","tag-britain","tag-british","tag-cabinet","tag-chancellor","tag-crisis","tag-culture","tag-demand","tag-democracy","tag-downing","tag-downing-street","tag-economy","tag-election","tag-england","tag-epa","tag-future","tag-ghana","tag-home-secretary","tag-housing","tag-immigration","tag-jones","tag-july","tag-keir-starmer","tag-lisa-nandy","tag-london","tag-millions","tag-mp","tag-one","tag-politics","tag-prime-minister","tag-quality","tag-rain","tag-shabana-mahmood","tag-street","tag-uk","tag-us","tag-us-open","tag-will","tag-work","tag-world","tag-x"],"blocksy_meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nsemgh.com\/api-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52680","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nsemgh.com\/api-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nsemgh.com\/api-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nsemgh.com\/api-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nsemgh.com\/api-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=52680"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.nsemgh.com\/api-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52680\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":52682,"href":"https:\/\/www.nsemgh.com\/api-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52680\/revisions\/52682"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nsemgh.com\/api-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/52681"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nsemgh.com\/api-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=52680"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nsemgh.com\/api-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=52680"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nsemgh.com\/api-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=52680"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}