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Burnham ministry

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Burnham ministry

Cabinet of the United Kingdom
2026–
Burnham's cabinet in September 2026
Date formed20 July 2026 (2026-07-20)
People and organisations
Monarch
Charles III
Prime Minister
Andy Burnham
First Secretary of State
Louise Haigh
No. of ministers
Member party
  Labour Party
Status in legislature
Majority
Opposition cabinet
Badenoch shadow cabinet
Opposition party
  Conservative Party
Opposition leader
Kemi Badenoch
History
Incoming formation
2026 Labour leadership election
Legislature term2024–present
PredecessorStarmer ministry

The Burnham ministry began on 20 July 2026 when Andy Burnham was invited by King Charles III to form a government, following the resignation of Keir Starmer after the 2026 Labour Party leadership election.

Background

[edit]

Following Burnham's appointment as Prime Minister on 20 July 2026, he began to form his cabinet, which first met on 21 July. He completed his ministerial appointments on 23 July.[1] The initial appointments resulted in major cabinet changes, featuring a significant removal of close Starmer allies, while returning and rewarding those contributing to his downfall. Key departures from the previous ministry included Rachel Reeves, who was removed as Chancellor of the Exchequer after reportedly turning down an alternative role, David Lammy, who was dismissed as Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary, Business Secretary Peter Kyle, Housing Secretary Steve Reed, Attorney General Lord Hermer, Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for Intergovernmental Affairs Darren Jones, and Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall, whose department was dissolved. 15 were dismissed from the cabinet, the most in a transition within the same party since Boris Johnson's first cabinet.[2]

Following the major dismissals, Burnham began selecting the senior members of his government, making many high-profile appointments and retentions. John Healey made a surprise return to government as Chancellor of the Exchequer, while Ed Miliband was elevated to Foreign Secretary, a major step up from his former Energy and Net Zero brief. Close ally Louise Haigh was appointed First Secretary of State, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and Minister for the Cabinet Office (his de facto Deputy Prime Minister). Angela Rayner returned to government in her previous post of Housing Secretary, Yvette Cooper was reshuffled to become Health Secretary and Wes Streeting re-joined the cabinet with his appointment as Defence Secretary. Rounding out the senior team, Jonathan Reynolds was promoted to the newly expanded brief of Business, Science, Innovation and Trade Secretary, while Labour Deputy Leader Lucy Powell became Education Secretary, Emma Reynolds returned to the Treasury, being appointed as Chief Secretary to the Treasury. Some notable retentions from Starmer's cabinet included Shabana Mahmood as Home Secretary, Pat McFadden as Work and Pensions Secretary, Alan Campbell as Leader of the Commons, Lisa Nandy as Culture Secretary and Heidi Alexander as Transport Secretary.

Burnham's cabinet is the first in history with a majority of female members: 12 of the 23 members of the cabinet are women and 11 (including the prime minister) are men. There are also two female ministers and three male ministers attending cabinet, making a total of 14 male and 14 female ministers at cabinet meetings.

Cabinet

[edit]

July 2026 – present

[edit]
Burnham Cabinet[3][4][1]
Post Portrait Name Seat Term
Cabinet members
Prime Minister,[LL]
First Lord of the Treasury,
Minister for the Civil Service,
Minister for the Union
Andy Burnham Makerfield 20 July 2026 – present
First Secretary of State,
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster,
Minister for the Cabinet Office
Louise Haigh Sheffield Heeley 20 July 2026 – present
Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey Rawmarsh and Conisbrough 20 July 2026 – present
Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs Ed Miliband Doncaster North 20 July 2026 – present
Secretary of State for the Home Department Shabana Mahmood Birmingham Ladywood 5 September 2025 – present
Secretary of State for Defence Wes Streeting Ilford North 20 July 2026 – present
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Yvette Cooper Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley 20 July 2026 – present
Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
Alex Norris Nottingham North and Kimberley 20 July 2026 – present
Secretary of State for Education[DLL] Lucy Powell Manchester Central 20 July 2026 – present
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Pat McFadden Wolverhampton South East 5 September 2025 – present
Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade;
President of the Board of Trade
Jonathan Reynolds Stalybridge and Hyde 20 July 2026 – present
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
Angela Rayner Ashton-under-Lyne 20 July 2026 – present
Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander Swindon South 29 November 2024 – present
Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
Miatta Fahnbulleh Peckham 20 July 2026 – present
Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy Wigan 5 July 2024 – present
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Dame Angela Eagle Wallasey 20 July 2026 – present
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Sir Chris Bryant Rhondda and Ogmore 20 July 2026 – present
Secretary of State for Scotland Douglas Alexander Lothian East 5 September 2025 – present
Secretary of State for Wales Stephen Kinnock Aberafan Maesteg 20 July 2026 – present
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Chief Whip) Anneliese Midgley Knowsley 20 July 2026 – present
Lord Privy Seal,
Leader of the House of Lords
Angela Smith, Baroness Smith of Basildon Life peer 5 July 2024 – present
Lord President of the Council,
Leader of the House of Commons
Sir Alan Campbell Tynemouth 5 September 2025 – present
Minister for Women and Equalities[CL]
Bridget Phillipson Houghton and Sunderland South 8 July 2024 – present
Also attending Cabinet
Chief Secretary to the Treasury
Emma Reynolds Wycombe 20 July 2026 – present
Attorney General
Ellie Reeves Lewisham West and East Dulwich 20 July 2026 – present
Minister of State (Minister for Intergovernmental Relations and European Relations)
Hamish Falconer Lincoln 20 July 2026 – present
Minister of State (Minister for Artificial Intelligence)
Kanishka Narayan Vale of Glamorgan 20 July 2026 – present
Minister of State (Minister for Housing and Planning)
Matthew Pennycook Greenwich and Woolwich 6 July 2024 – present
(attending Cabinet since 20 July 2026)

Changes

[edit]

Changes from Keir Starmer's final cabinet.[1]

List of ministers

[edit]

The current list of ministers in the cabinet is as follows:[4][1]

Member of the House of Commons Member of the House of Lords
Cabinet members are listed in bold
Ministers that attend Cabinet are listed in bold italics

Prime Minister and Cabinet Office

[edit]
Cabinet Office
including Office for the Prime Minister and Cabinet
Post Incumbent Term
Prime Minister,
First Lord of the Treasury,
Minister for the Civil Service,
Minister for the Union
Andy Burnham 20 July 2026 – present
First Secretary of State,
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster,
Minister for the Cabinet Office
Louise Haigh 20 July 2026 – present
Minister of State (Minister for Artificial Intelligence)
(jointly with Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
Kanishka Narayan 20 July 2026 – present
Minister of State (Minister for Intergovernmental Relations and European Relations)
(jointly with Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Hamish Falconer 20 July 2026 – present
Minister of State (Security Minister)
(jointly with Home Office)
Dan Jarvis 21 July 2026 – present
Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office Sally Jameson
(also Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government)
22 July 2026 – present
Dan Tomlinson
(also Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury)
22 July 2026 – present
Mark Ferguson 22 July 2026 – present
Fiona Twycross, Baroness Twycross
(also Minister for Heritage)
22 July 2026 – present

Departments of State

[edit]
Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade
and UK Export Finance
Post Incumbent Term
Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade;
President of the Board of Trade
Jonathan Reynolds 20 July 2026 – present
Minister of State (Minister for Artificial Intelligence)
(jointly with Cabinet Office)
Kanishka Narayan 20 July 2026 – present
Minister of State (Minister for Trade) Anas Sarwar, Baron Sarwar 22 July 2026 – present
Minister of State (Minister for the Future of Work) Kate Dearden 21 July 2026 – present
Minister of State (Minister for Science, Innovation and Investment)
(jointly with Department of Health and Social Care)
Chris McDonald 21 July 2026 – present
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Space, Cyber and Regulatory Reform)
(jointly with Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
Liz Lloyd, Baroness Lloyd of Effra 22 July 2026 – present
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Reindustrialisation)
(jointly with Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Blair McDougall 22 July 2026 – present
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Small Business and Enterprise) Sonny Leong, Baron Leong 22 July 2026 – present
Ministry of Defence
Post Incumbent Term
Secretary of State for Defence Wes Streeting 20 July 2026 – present
Minister of State (Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry) Luke Pollard 6 September 2025 – present
Minister of State (Minister for the House of Lords) Vernon Coaker, Baron Coaker 8 July 2024 – present
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for the Armed Forces) Louise Sandher-Jones 12 June 2026 – present
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Veterans and People) Calvin Bailey 12 June 2026 – present
Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
Post Incumbent Term
Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy
(was Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport before 20 July 2026)
5 July 2024 – present
Minister of State (Minister for Creative Industries, Media and Online Safety) Ian Murray 21 July 2026 – present
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Heritage) Fiona Twycross, Baroness Twycross
(also Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office)
22 July 2026 – present
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Sport, Tourism, Place and Digital Government) Stephanie Peacock 22 July 2026 – present
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Youth, Gambling, Digital Inclusion, Civil Society & Loneliness) Vicky Foxcroft 22 July 2026 – present
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Arts and Museums) Ruth Mackenzie, Baroness Mackenzie of Sherwood 22 July 2026 – present
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Space, Cyber and Regulatory Reform)
(jointly with Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
Liz Lloyd, Baroness Lloyd of Effra 22 July 2026 – present
Department for Education
Post Incumbent Term
Secretary of State for Education Lucy Powell 20 July 2026 – present
Minister of State (Minister for School Standards) Georgia Gould 6 September 2025 – present
Minister of State (Minister for Skills)
(jointly with Department for Work and Pensions)
Jacqui Smith, Baroness Smith of Malvern 6 July 2024 – present
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Early Education) Paul Waugh 22 July 2026 – present
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Children and Families) Josh MacAlister 7 September 2025 – present
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
Post Incumbent Term
Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Miatta Fahnbulleh 20 July 2026 – present
Minister of State (Minister for Energy) Michael Shanks 6 September 2025 – present
Minister of State (Minister for Climate Transition) Katie White 21 July 2026 – present
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Local Energy and Jobs) Martin McCluskey 22 July 2026 – present
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Energy Consumers) Polly Billington 22 July 2026 – present
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Reindustrialisation)
(jointly with Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
Blair McDougall 22 July 2026 – present
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Lords Minister) Margaret Curran, Baroness Curran
(unpaid)
22 July 2026 – present
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Post Incumbent Term
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Dame Angela Eagle 20 July 2026 – present
Minister of State (Minister for Water and Flooding) Emma Hardy 21 July 2026 – present
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Nature) Jenny Riddell-Carpenter 22 July 2026 – present
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs) Stephen Morgan 22 July 2026 – present
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Biosecurity, Borders and Animals) Sue Hayman, Baroness Hayman of Ullock 9 July 2024 – present
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Post Incumbent Term
Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs Ed Miliband 20 July 2026 – present
Minister of State (Minister for Intergovernmental Relations and European Relations)
(jointly with Cabinet Office)
Hamish Falconer 20 July 2026 – present
Minister of State for International Development Kirsty McNeill 21 July 2026 – present
Minister of State (Minister for Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan) Stephen Doughty 21 July 2026 – present
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Overseas Territories, Caribbean, Global Tech and AI) Uma Kumaran
(also Assistant Whip) (paid as a whip)
22 July 2026 – present
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for the Americas, Multilateral and Human Rights) Chris Elmore 22 July 2026 – present
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Europe, Eastern Europe, International Security and Growth) Stewart Wood, Baron Wood of Anfield 23 July 2026 – present
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Indo-Pacific) Rosie Winterton, Baroness Winterton of Doncaster 23 July 2026 – present
Department of Health and Social Care
Post Incumbent Term
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Yvette Cooper 20 July 2026 – present
Minister of State (Minister for Public Health and Patient Safety) Dame Diana Johnson 21 July 2026 – present
Minister of State for Health (Secondary Care) Karin Smyth 8 July 2024 – present
Minister of State (Minister for Social Care and Mental Health) Alison McGovern 22 July 2026 – present
Minister of State (Minister for Science, Innovation and Investment)
(jointly with Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade)
Chris McDonald 21 July 2026 – present
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Health Innovation) James Frith 22 July 2026 – present
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Women's Health and Maternity) Gillian Merron, Baroness Merron 22 July 2026 – present
Home Office
Post Incumbent Term
Secretary of State for the Home Department Shabana Mahmood 5 September 2025 – present
Minister of State (Security Minister)
(jointly with Cabinet Office)
Dan Jarvis 21 July 2026 – present
Minister of State (Minister for Policing and Crime) Sarah Jones 6 September 2025 – present
Minister of State David Hanson, Baron Hanson of Flint 9 July 2024 – present
Minister of State (Minister for Border Security and Asylum) Anna Turley 21 July 2026 – present
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Migration and Citizenship) Jo White 22 July 2026 – present
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls) Satvir Kaur
(also Minister for Equalities)
22 July 2026 – present
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Ray Collins, Baron Collins of Highbury
(also Minister for Equalities, also Deputy Leader of the House of Lords)
22 July 2026 – present
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Post Incumbent Term
Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Angela Rayner 20 July 2026 – present
Minister of State (Minister for Housing and Planning) Matthew Pennycook
(attending Cabinet from 20 July 2026)
6 July 2024 – present
Minister of State (Minister for Homelessness, Democracy, Communities and Faith) Florence Eshalomi 21 July 2026 – present
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State Sally Jameson
(also Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office)
22 July 2026 – present
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Local Government, Devolution and Regional Growth) Jim McMahon 22 July 2026 – present
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Housing and Local Government) Sharon Taylor, Baroness Taylor of Stevenage 9 July 2024 – present
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Building Safety, Fire and Resilience) Judith Blake, Baroness Blake of Leeds
(also Baroness in Waiting) (paid as a whip)
22 July 2026 – present
Office for Equality and Opportunity
Minister for Women and Equalities
(reporting to the Prime Minister)
Bridget Phillipson
(unpaid)
8 July 2024 – present
Minister of State (Minister for Equalities) Sir Stephen Timms
(also Minister for Social Security and Disability)
22 July 2026 – present
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Equalities) Ray Collins, Baron Collins of Highbury
(also Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Home Office, also Deputy Leader of the House of Lords)
22 July 2026 – present
Satvir Kaur
(also Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls)
22 July 2026 – present
Simon Lightwood
(also Minister for Buses and Local Transport)
22 July 2026 – present
Ministry of Justice
Post Incumbent Term
Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice Alex Norris 20 July 2026 – present
Minister of State (Minister for Prisons, Probation and Reducing Reoffending) Catherine McKinnell 21 July 2026 – present
Minister of State (Minister for Courts and Legal Services) Sarah Sackman 2 December 2024 – present
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and Lords Minister Gerard Lemos, Baron Lemos 22 July 2026 – present
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Victims, Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) and International Justice) Alex Davies-Jones 22 July 2026 – present
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Sentencing, Human Rights and Technology) Jake Richards 22 July 2026 – present
Northern Ireland Office
Post Incumbent Term
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Sir Chris Bryant 20 July 2026 – present
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Northern Ireland Office Sarah Owen 22 July 2026 – present
Ruth Anderson, Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent
(also Captain of The King’s Bodyguard of the Yeoman of the Guard) (paid as a whip)
22 July 2026 – present
Scotland Office
Post Incumbent Term
Secretary of State for Scotland Douglas Alexander 5 September 2025 – present
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Scotland Office Melanie Ward 22 July 2026 – present
Department for Transport
Post Incumbent Term
Secretary of State for Transport Heidi Alexander 29 November 2024 – present
Minister of State (Minister for Rail) Peter Hendy, Baron Hendy of Richmond Hill
(unpaid)
8 July 2024 – present
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Roads) Justin Madders 22 July 2026 – present
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Buses and Local Transport) Simon Lightwood
(also Minister for Equalities)
22 July 2026 – present
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Aviation, Maritime and Logistics) Keir Mather 7 September 2025 – present
HM Treasury
Post Incumbent Term
Chancellor of the Exchequer
(Second Lord of the Treasury)
John Healey 20 July 2026 – present
Chief Secretary to the Treasury Emma Reynolds 20 July 2026 – present
Financial Secretary to the Treasury,
Paymaster General
James Murray 21 July 2026 – present
Economic Secretary to the Treasury
(Minister of State)
Lucy Rigby 21 July 2026 – present
Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury (Minister for Growth)
(Parliamentary Secretary)
Dan Tomlinson
(also Parliamentary Secretary in the Cabinet Office)
1 September 2025 – present
Parliamentary Secretary (Pensions Minister)
(jointly with Department for Work and Pensions)
Torsten Bell 14 January 2025 – present
Parliamentary Secretary in the Treasury David Pitt-Watson, Baron Pitt-Watson
(unpaid)
22 July 2026 – present
Wales Office
Post Incumbent Term
Secretary of State for Wales Stephen Kinnock 20 July 2026 – present
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Wales Office Anna McMorrin 7 September 2025 – present
Claire Hughes
(also Junior Lord of the Treasury) (paid as a whip)
16 September 2025 – present
Department for Work and Pensions
Post Incumbent Term
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Pat McFadden 5 September 2025 – present
Minister of State (Minister for Social Security and Disability) Sir Stephen Timms
(also Minister for Equalities)
8 July 2024 – present
Minister of State (Minister for Skills)
(jointly with Department for Education)
Jacqui Smith, Baroness Smith of Malvern 6 September 2025 – present
Minister of State (Minister for Lords) Maeve Sherlock, Baroness Sherlock 17 December 2024 – present
Minister of State (Minister for Employment) Andrew Western 21 July 2026 – present
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Innovation, Fraud and Data) Lilian Greenwood 22 July 2026 – present
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Pensions Minister)
(jointly with HM Treasury)
Torsten Bell 14 January 2025 – present

Law officers

[edit]
Attorney General's Office
Post Incumbent Term
Attorney General
(Advocate General for Northern Ireland)
Ellie Reeves 20 July 2026 – present
Solicitor General Andy Slaughter 21 July 2026 – present
Office of the Advocate General for Scotland
Post Incumbent Term
HM Advocate General for Scotland Catherine Smith, Baroness Smith of Cluny 29 August 2024 – present

Parliament

[edit]
House Leaders
Post Incumbent Term
Lord President of the Council,
Leader of the House of Commons
Sir Alan Campbell 5 September 2025 – present
Lord Privy Seal,
Leader of the House of Lords
Angela Smith, Baroness Smith of Basildon 5 July 2024 – present
Deputy Leader of the House of Lords Ray Collins, Baron Collins of Highbury
(also Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Home Office, also Minister for Equalities)
9 July 2024 – present
House of Commons Whips
Post Incumbent Term
Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury
Government Chief Whip
Anneliese Midgley 20 July 2026 – present
Treasurer of HM Household
Deputy Government Chief Whip
Sir Mark Tami 10 July 2024 – present
Comptroller of HM Household
Senior Government Whip
Gen Kitchen 12 May 2026 – present
Vice Chamberlain of HM Household
Senior Government Whip
Emma Foody 21 July 2026 – present
Junior Lords of the Treasury
Government Whips
Christian Wakeford 7 September 2025 – present
Jade Botterill 12 June 2026 – present
Claire Hughes
(also Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Wales Office)
22 July 2026 – present
Gregor Poynton 22 July 2026 – present
Shaun Davies 22 July 2026 – present
Assistant Whips
Assistant Government Whips
Uma Kumaran
(also Minister for Overseas Territories, Caribbean, Global Tech and AI)
22 July 2026 – present
Laurence Turner 22 July 2026 – present
Rachel Hopkins 22 July 2026 – present
Harpreet Uppal 22 July 2026 – present
Michael Wheeler 22 July 2026 – present
Liam Conlon 22 July 2026 – present
Sarah Coombes 22 July 2026 – present
House of Lords Whips
Post Incumbent Term
Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms
Government Chief Whip
Roy Kennedy, Baron Kennedy of Southwark 10 July 2024 – present
Captain of the King's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard
Deputy Government Chief Whip
Ruth Anderson, Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent
(also Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Northern Ireland Office)
22 July 2026 – present
Lords and Baronesses in Waiting
Government Whips
Judith Blake, Baroness Blake of Leeds
(also Minister for Building Safety, Fire and Resilience)
11 July 2024 – present
Phil Wilson, Baron Wilson of Sedgefield (unpaid) 10 February 2025 – present
Mike Katz, Baron Katz 11 April 2025 – present
Jane Ramsey, Baroness Ramsey of Wall Heath 12 June 2026 – present
Sophy Antrobus, Baroness Antrobus 22 July 2026 – present
Brenda Dacres, Baroness Dacres of Lewisham 22 July 2026 – present
Sara Hyde, Baroness Hyde of Bemerton
(unpaid)
22 July 2026 – present

Non-ministerial appointments

[edit]

Parliamentary Private Secretaries

[edit]

On 27 July 2026, an updated Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) list was issued.[11]

Post Incumbent Term
10 Downing Street (Prime Minister's Office)
Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Prime Minister Sir Nic Dakin 27 July 2026 – present
David Baines 27 July 2026 – present
Jo Platt 27 July 2026 – present
Cabinet Office
Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Cabinet Office Alan Gemmell 27 July 2026 – present
Beccy Cooper 27 July 2026 – present
Natasha Irons 27 July 2026 – present
Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade
Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade Marie Tidball 11 September 2025 – present
Deirdre Costigan 27 July 2026 – present
Baggy Shanker 27 July 2026 – present
Ministry of Defence
Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Ministry of Defence Gordon McKee 27 July 2026 – present
Steve Race 27 July 2026 – present
Rosie Wrighting 27 July 2026 – present
Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Jack Abbott 11 September 2025 – present
Lola McEvoy 11 September 2025 – present
Matthew Patrick 27 July 2026 – present
Department for Education
Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Department for Education Elsie Blundell 27 July 2026 – present
Adam Jogee 27 July 2026 – present
Sarah Smith 27 July 2026 – present
Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero Tom Hayes 27 July 2026 – present
Jeevun Sandher 27 July 2026 – present
Steve Witherden 27 July 2026 – present
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Jayne Kirkham 11 May 2026 – present
Lee Pitcher 27 July 2026 – present
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office Anna Gelderd 27 July 2026 – present
Laura Kyrke-Smith 27 July 2026 – present
Chris Murray 27 July 2026 – present
Department of Health and Social Care
Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Department of Health and Social Care David Burton-Sampson 11 May 2026 – present
Catherine Atkinson 27 July 2026 – present
Sonia Kumar 27 July 2026 – present
Home Office
Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Home Office Michael Payne 11 May 2026 – present
Adam Thompson 27 July 2026 – present
Chris Vince 27 July 2026 – present
Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government
Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Olivia Blake 27 July 2026 – present
Luke Charters 27 July 2026 – present
Kirith Entwistle 27 July 2026 – present
Ministry of Justice
Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Ministry of Justice Joe Powell 11 September 2025 – present
Linsey Farnsworth 11 May 2026 – present
Connor Rand 27 July 2026 – present
Northern Ireland Office
Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Northern Ireland Office Pam Cox 27 July 2026 – present
Pamela Nash 27 July 2026 – present
Scotland Office
Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Scotland Office Frank McNally 11 September 2025 – present
Alison Taylor 11 September 2025 – present
Department for Transport
Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Department for Transport Amanda Martin 27 July 2026 – present
Luke Murphy 27 July 2026 – present
Connor Naismith 27 July 2026 – present
HM Treasury
Parliamentary Private Secretary to HM Treasury Alistair Strathern 19 July 2024 – present
John Grady 27 July 2026 – present
Yuan Yang 27 July 2026 – present
Wales Office
Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Wales Office Becky Gittins 19 July 2024 – present
Department for Work and Pensions
Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Department for Work and Pensions David Pinto-Duschinsky November 2025 – present
Tim Roca 11 May 2026 – present
Elaine Stewart 20 May 2026 – present
Leader of the House of Commons
Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Leader of the House of Commons Amanda Hack 27 July 2026 – present
Leader of the House of Lords
Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Leader of the House of Lords Matt Rodda 27 July 2026 – present
Office for Equality and Opportunity
Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Office for Equality and Opportunity Callum Anderson 27 July 2026 – present
Alice Macdonald 27 July 2026 – present
Attorney General's Office
Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Attorney General's Office Kevin Bonavia 5 December 2024 – present
Alex McIntyre 27 July 2026 – present
Other
Parliamentary Private Secretary to Kanishka Narayan Lauren Sullivan 27 July 2026 – present
Parliamentary Private Secretary to Hamish Falconer Oliver Ryan 27 July 2026 – present
Parliamentary Private Secretary to Matthew Pennycook Mary Kelly Foy 27 July 2026 – present

Prime Minister's Office

[edit]
Office Incumbent Term
Downing Street Chief of Staff James Purnell 20 July 2026 – present
Deputy Chief of Staff (Number 10 North) Caroline Simpson 20 July 2026 – present
Deputy Chief of Staff Alison Phillips 20 July 2026 – present
Director of Political Strategy Matthew McGregor 20 July 2026 – present
Political Director to the Prime Minister Hayden Munro 20 July 2026 – present
Director of Policy Graeme Cooke 20 July 2026 – present
Director of Communications Sarah Brown 20 July 2026 – present
Press Secretary John Stevens 20 July 2026 – present

Media analysis

[edit]

Media analysis of Burnham's initial appointments to his cabinet on 20 July 2026 noted the removal of individuals seen as Starmer loyalists.

BBC News' political editor Chris Mason called it a "pretty significant cull of the ministers closest to and most loyal to Keir Starmer".[12]

Sky News called it a "purge of the Starmerites".[13] Sky News' political editor Beth Rigby said "there was quite a brutal cull of all Starmer loyalists. [...] The only person that survived in that cabinet that hadn't made it known that they would like Keir Starmer to set out a timetable for [his] departure is Pat McFadden",[14] McFadden having been kept by Burnham as his Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.[1][15][16] Rigby did note that Burnham "kept a lot of cabinet ministers in position. Burnham might have shuffled the pack a bit, but he's not completely doing away with the Starmer regime",[13] but also said that "all of the other cabinet ministers that are still in the cabinet, in maybe different jobs, but are still there, were people that let it be known that they thought that Keir Starmer's time was up, that's Ed Miliband, Yvette Cooper, John Healey, and Shabana Mahmood."[14]

Those named as sacked Starmer loyalists included Darren Jones, David Lammy, Peter Kyle, Lord Hermer, Steve Reed, and Rachel Reeves, although in Reeves' case, Chris Mason reported that he was told Reeves was offered a cabinet post but turned it down,[12] with The Guardian reporting that the position she turned down was that of Defence Secretary, Reeves choosing to return to the backbenches, and the role going to Wes Streeting.[17][1] Mason additionally posed the question of how vocally the departed Starmerites would criticise the new government from the backbenches as it set out its programme.[12]

Commentary also examined the ideological composition of the new cabinet. Tribune wrote that Burnham's appointments leant further towards the party's soft left than Starmer's cabinet, with Starmer's core supporters largely swept aside while Ed Miliband, Louise Haigh, Miatta Fahnbulleh and Angela Rayner took prominent posts, but cautioned that the result was "a potentially uneasy coalition" between the soft left and the Labour right.[18] Analysis for Left Foot Forward highlighted the rehabilitation of Rayner and Haigh, both of whom had been forced to resign from Starmer's government, describing Rayner as "a political heavyweight" whose housing brief includes devolution, a core focus of Burnham's government, and suggested that Fahnbulleh's appointment signalled continuity with the previous government's net zero agenda; it also questioned whether the overall composition, which retained many of the same ministers, was overly cautious.[19]

The junior appointments announced on 21–23 July also attracted comment, particularly the decision to give a life peerage and a ministerial post to Anas Sarwar, who had led Scottish Labour to its worst Holyrood defeat since devolution at the May 2026 election, and who had been the first senior Labour figure to publicly call for Starmer's resignation. LBC reported that Sarwar had rejected suggestions during the Holyrood campaign that he would accept a seat in the Lords if he failed to become First Minister, and quoted a Labour Party source describing the appointment as "falling upwards as an extreme sport".[20] The Spectator similarly argued that the appointment showed Burnham was prepared to reward "those who've enabled him one way or the other".[21]

Notes

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References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Ministerial Appointments: July 2026". GOV.UK. 20 July 2026. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  2. ↑ "electionmapsuk (@electionmapsuk) on X". X (formerly Twitter). 22 July 2026. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
  3. ↑ "Who's in Andy Burnham's cabinet?". BBC News. 20 July 2026. Archived from the original on 21 July 2026. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Ministers". GOV.UK. Retrieved 21 July 2026.
  5. ↑ Green, Daniel (27 July 2026). "Bridget Phillipson appointed Labour Party chair". Labour List. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 "Machinery of Government Changes: Statement made on 21 July 2026". Parliament.UK. 21 July 2026. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 "Machinery of Government changes: Fact Sheet". gov.uk. 22 July 2026. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  8. ↑ "Burnham merges DBT with DSIT and gives 'digital' back to DCMS". Civil Service World. 21 July 2026. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  9. ↑ Markson, Tevye (21 July 2026). "Antonia Romeo to lead new Office for the PM and Cabinet". Civil Service World. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  10. ↑ "Burnham is right to create an Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet". Institute for Government. 21 July 2026. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  11. ↑ "PPS RESHUFFLE LIST IN FULL". Guido Fawkes. 27 July 2026. Retrieved 27 July 2026.
  12. 1 2 3 Mason, Chris (21 July 2026). "Starmer ally takes swipe at Burnham's first big policy". BBC News. Archived from the original on 21 July 2026. Retrieved 21 July 2026. One of the key stories of the reshuffle was a pretty significant cull of the ministers closest too and most loyal to the now former prime minister, Darren Jones among them, but also David Lammy, Peter Kyle, Lord Hermer, Steve Reed and Rachel Reeves – albeit Reeves, I am told, was offered a cabinet post but turned it down. The question, in the coming days, weeks and months is how much do we hear in public from those banished Starmerites, as Andy Burnham's government sets out its stall.
  13. 1 2 Sky News (20 July 2026). A shock appointment and a purge of the Starmerites: Who's in (and out) of Burham's cabinet? (Video). Archived from the original on 21 July 2026. Retrieved 21 July 2026 – via YouTube.
  14. 1 2 Sky News (21 July 2026). Andy Burnham's new cabinet arrives at Number 10 ahead of first meeting (Video). Event occurs at 1:43. Archived from the original on 21 July 2026. Retrieved 22 July 2026 – via YouTube.
  15. ↑ @10DowningStreet (20 July 2026). "Pat McFadden has been reappointed as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions @dwpgovuk" (Tweet). Retrieved 20 July 2026 – via X (formerly Twitter).
  16. ↑ "McFadden remains work and pensions secretary". BBC News. 20 July 2026. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  17. ↑ Stacey, Kiran (20 July 2026). "Briefing Wars: How Labour Ministers Tried, and Failed, to Get Into Burnham's Cabinet". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  18. ↑ "Andy Burnham's Cabinet Red Flags". Tribune. 22 July 2026. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  19. ↑ "'He could have made a lot more of it': An analysis of Andy Burnham's cabinet picks". Left Foot Forward. 22 July 2026. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  20. ↑ Davidson, Gina (21 July 2026). "Anas Sarwar to be given peerage after Scottish Labour's worst Holyrood defeat". LBC. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  21. ↑ Hardman, Isabel (22 July 2026). "Anas Sarwar's peerage is hardly a surprise". The Spectator. Retrieved 22 July 2026.