Starmer loyalists are purged as Miliband becomes Foreign Secretary
Andy Burnham has appointed John Healey as Chancellor and Ed Miliband as Foreign Secretary in his first cabinet, hours after becoming Prime Minister on 20 July 2026.
Burnham took office after Keir Starmer resigned. The former Greater Manchester Mayor began announcing appointments the same day, with the new roles confirmed in BBC live coverage.
Healey served as Defence Secretary under Starmer. He replaces Rachel Reeves, who had already signalled she would not serve in the new government. His appointment came as a surprise to Westminster. Speculation had centred on Shabana Mahmood or Miliband for the Treasury, The Independent reported.
Miliband succeeds Yvette Cooper as Foreign Secretary. His brother David Miliband, the former Foreign Secretary, is not part of the new cabinet.
Mahmood stays on as Home Secretary. Louise Haigh is expected to take another senior role. Several ministers loyal to Starmer have been sacked or sidelined, including David Lammy. More appointments are expected as the reshuffle continues.
Pat McFadden has been confirmed as Work and Pensions Secretary, a post he has held since 5 September 2025. He said on his X account that he was honoured to stay in the role.
‘As the Prime Minister said, our mission as a government must be to support people into work and spread opportunity’, McFadden said. ‘That’s how we’ll reform the welfare system in a way that is fair & sustainable.’
Our mission as a government must be to support people into work and spread opportunity
Healey inherits a Treasury under pressure. Burnham’s promises of faster help for households will need funding, and the choices Healey makes in his first weeks will show whether the new government intends to change course or carry on spending money it does not have.
Burnham becomes the fourth Labour figure to lead the party into government or contest its leadership since 2010. He stood twice for the Labour leadership before becoming Greater Manchester Mayor in 2017.
The reshuffle follows standard constitutional practice. The Prime Minister appoints ministers and the King formally approves the appointments. Further cabinet announcements are expected in the coming days.
