Andy Burnham stood on the step of Downing Street on Monday without a lectern, without notes, and promised a 'circuit breaker for Britain' — a direct break from the podium-bound instability that has made the UK's politics a revolving door. 'I am acutely conscious of the churn in the office behind me,' he said, referring to a country that has now had seven prime ministers since 2016, the seventh being himself.
His first instruction as prime minister was to 'end rough sleeping in our country', swiftly backed by a No 10 press release committing an extra £340m over five years from the housing department budget. But the real test began hours earlier, when he began naming a cabinet that defied most predictions. Former defence secretary John Healey — who resigned last month — arrived at Downing Street as the surprise new chancellor, replacing Rachel Reeves after she confirmed she would not serve in Burnham's government.
“Andy Burnham becomes UK's seventh PM since 2016, names surprise cabinet and pledges to end rough sleeping.”
Ed Miliband, the former energy secretary, was promoted to foreign secretary, while Shabana Mahmood was reappointed home secretary. Louise Haigh, the MP who masterminded Burnham's by-election campaign and who resigned as transport secretary in 2024 after pleading guilty to fraud by misrepresentation, was given the role of running the Cabinet Office and appointed first secretary of state — making her, as one friend put it, 'Andy's right-hand woman'. Burnham insisted all cabinet appointments were 'made on merit'.
In his first speech, Burnham promised a new 10-year plan for Britain, to be unveiled later this year, and said announcements on tackling the cost of living would begin on Tuesday. He also pledged to build more council homes, change the education system to help young people into work, honour defence commitments, and stick to spending and debt rules. The Mirror urged him to raise the tax-free personal allowance — a move he has said he is considering, alongside tax reductions and social care free at the point of delivery.
But the Tories are already demanding answers. Lord True, the shadow Lords leader, tabled a motion for a debate in the House of Lords on Tuesday, accusing Burnham of 'running scared of Parliamentary scrutiny' for letting the Commons go into recess without facing questions. 'Our democracy relies on the Government being held accountable, and the Conservatives will fight to make sure that happens,' Lord True said.
With the war in Iran on the verge of spiralling, weak economic growth, and the bond markets watching, Burnham's promise of 'the biggest changes in 40 years' faces its first test this week — starting with his own Treasury and the cost-of-living plans he must now deliver.