UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham unveils new government, replacing Starmer era

Britain's new Prime Minister Andy Burnham took office on Monday, reshuffling the cabinet to remove allies of predecessor Keir Starmer and appointing John Healey as finance minister, Ed Miliband as foreign minister and Wes Streeting as defence minister. Burnham pledged a 10-year plan to tackle cost-of-living pressures and signalled a leftward shift. Britain's new Prime Minister Andy Burnham took office on Monday, reshuffling the cabinet to remove allies of predecessor Keir Starmer and appointing John Healey as finance minister, Ed Miliband as foreign minister and Wes Streeting as defence minister.

Burnham pledged a 10-year plan to tackle cost-of-living pressures and signalled a leftward shift. Issued on: 21/07/2026 - 05:21 Modified: 21/07/2026 - 05:25 By: FRANCE 24 Britain's new Prime Minister Andy Burnham at 10 Downing Street in London, July 20, 2026 © Kirsty Wigglesworth, AP New UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham took power Monday, purging the cabinet of his predecessor's loyalists as he promised a 10-year plan to ease cost-of-living pressures and signalled a tilt to the left. He immediately got to work after replacing Keir Starmer in Downing Street, holding separate calls with US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky before appointing his ministerial team.

Burnham, 56, pledged to re-industrialise Britain and decentralise power as well as end sleeping rough on the streets after he met King Charles III at Buckingham Palace to become the head of government following Starmer's departure. The monarch's fourth prime minister since he acceded to the throne in 2022, and Britain's seventh in just over a decade, Burnham said the country needed to show the world it could "regain stability". To display this content from YouTube, you must enable tracking and audience measurement.

One of your browser extensions seems to be blocking the video player from loading. To watch this content, you may need to disable it on this site. Cover et by resounding applause from supporters, including his mother.

Standing outside his new official residence at Number 10, he vowed to create "a new political model" and "build a new economy ". In his first call with Trump, Burnham underlined his "commitment to defence and security", a UK government spokesperson said. Trump said he had a "very good conversation" with Burnham and that the two leaders would meet "in the not too distant future".

Burnham "has got a big job ahead of him, but he will be able to do it and, of course, the U.S.A. will be there to help!" Trump posted on Truth Social, noting they discussed trade, military cooperation and demining the Strait of Hormuz. To Zelensky, Burnham reaffirmed Britain's "resolute commitment" to Ukraine in its defence of Russia 's invasion, according to Downing Street. He also moved swiftly to stamp his authority on the new government by sacking several Starmer loyalists from his cabinet, including Rachel Reeves and David Lammy, while moving some ministers to other jobs and promoting allies.

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Cover 6, where he invited the leader of the Labour Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government. © Aaron Chown, Pool via 01:37 'Stronger and fairer' Ex-defence secretary John Healey replaced Reeves as finance minister, Ed Miliband became foreign minister and left-wing figurehead Angela Rayner returned to government. Wes Streeting, who abandoned plans to run against Burnham for the Labour leadership, is now defence minister.

Shabana Mahmood was reappointed interior minister to see through her hardline reforms of Britain's asylum system. In his brief speech, Burnham said he would "bring forward a new plan for Britain, a 10-year plan", without giving specifics. Starmer had similarly talked of his intention to lead a "decade of national renewal" before Labour MPs ditched him last month in favour of Burnham, who only returned to parliament four weeks ago.

Burnham promised to "give people some breathing space now, some help with the cost of living", which he said he would start to announce Tuesday. He also said his first instruction would be a pledge to "end rough sleeping", a measure he attempted to implement as a regional mayor in northern England, although it was not fully successful.