Burnham stamps authority with cabinet shake-up
London—New UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham convened his first Cabinet meeting on Tuesday after purging the government of his predecessor’s loyalists, as he promised a 10-year plan to ease cost-of-living pressures and signaled 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 Zelenskyy before appointing his ministerial team.
Burnham, 56, pledged to re-industrialize Britain and decentralize 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.”
Accompanied by his wife Marie-France van Heel, Burnham was greeted in Downing Street by resounding applause from supporters, including his mother.
‘New political model’
Standing outside his new official residence at Number 10, he vowed to create “a new political model” and “build a new economy.”
And he promised to “give people some breathing space now, some help with the cost of living,” which he said he would start to announce on Tuesday.
In his first call with Trump, Burnham underlined his “commitment to defense 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.
‘New momentum’
To Zelenskyy, Burnham reaffirmed Britain’s “resolute commitment” to Ukraine in its defense of Russia’s invasion, according to Downing Street.
French President Emmanuel Macron sent congratulations, urging Burnham to “give new momentum to the partnership” with the European Union.
Burnham 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.
Ex-Defense 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 defense 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.
