Andy Burnham appoints new Cabinet

Andy Burnham, has appointed his new Cabinet after being made Prime Minister on 20th July, and set out his vision for his premiership.

Speaking outside No 10 Downing Street, the former Greater Manchester Mayor outlined his government would begin work on a 10-year strategy for the UK, as well as begin initial measures to reduce the impact of rising living costs, with a reduction in the rate of VAT on household electricity bills from 5% to 0% subsequently announced, funded by scrapping Digital ID proposals. Burnham also announced work to eliminate rough sleeping, echoing work he has done during his tenure as Greater Manchester Mayor to reduce homelessness in the city-region. He also set out a more collaborative approach to politics.

Naming his Cabinet, Andy Burnham has returned a number of former Cabinet Ministers to the Prime Minister’s top team, including former Transport Secretary, Louise Haigh, who has been appointed as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and Minister for the Cabinet Office, and Ashton-under-Lyne MP, Angela Rayner, returns to the Cabinet as Housing Secretary. Other Greater Manchester MPs in the Cabinet including Lucy Powell, who becomes Education Secretary; Lisa Nandy, who remains Culture Secretary; and Jonathan Reynolds, who becomes Business Secretary.

Andy Burnham’s full list of ministerial appointments include:

• John Healey MP as Chancellor of the Exchequer
• Ed Miliband MP as Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
• Louise Haigh MP as First Secretary of State, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and Minister for the Cabinet Office
• Shabana Mahmood MP will remain as Secretary of State for the Home Department
• Yvette Cooper MP as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
• Pat McFadden MP will remain as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
• Angela Rayner MP as Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government
• Jonathan Reynolds MP as Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade
• Lucy Powell MP as Secretary of State for Education
• Anneliese Midgley MP as Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Chief Whip). She will be a member of Cabinet
• Bridget Phillipson MP will remain a full member of Cabinet as Minister for Women and Equalities, reporting to the Prime Minister
• Lisa Nandy MP as Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport
• Wes Streeting MP as Secretary of State for Defence
• Alex Norris MP as Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
• Dame Angela Eagle DBE MP as Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
• Miatta Fahnbulleh MP as Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero
• Stephen Kinnock MP as Secretary of State for Wales.
• Sir Chris Bryant MP as Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.
• Ellie Reeves KC MP as Attorney General. She will attend Cabinet.
• Emma Reynolds MP as Chief Secretary to the Treasury. She will attend Cabinet.
• Kanishka Narayan MP as Minister of State (Minister for Artificial Intelligence) jointly in the Cabinet Office and the Department for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade. He will attend Cabinet. 
• Hamish Falconer MP as Minister of State (Minister for Intergovernmental Relations and European Relations) jointly in the Cabinet Office and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. He will attend Cabinet.
• Heidi Alexander MP will remain as Secretary of State for Transport.
• Douglas Alexander MP will remain as Secretary of State for Scotland.
• Sir Alan Campbell MP will remain as Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons.
• Baroness Smith of Basildon will remain as Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House of Lords.
• Matthew Pennycook MP will remain as Minister of State in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. He will attend Cabinet.