Burnham Dismisses Six Ministers Hours After Becoming PM

Andy Burnham began his tenure as prime minister by dismissing key members of his predecessor’s cabinet on Monday, July 20, 2026, moving swiftly to install his own leadership team hours after being confirmed as the new Labour leader and meeting with the King. The reshuffle saw several high-profile departures, with Burnham signaling a definitive break from the previous administration of Sir Keir Starmer.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves, Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Business Secretary Peter Kyle, Housing Secretary Steve Reed, and Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Darren Jones were among those confirmed to have left the government. Also departing were Attorney General Richard Hermer, Science and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall, Wales Secretary Jo Stevens, and Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn. In a social media post, Lammy stated he would have been proud to continue serving but acknowledged a new prime minister’s entitlement to build his own team. Similarly, in a letter, Reed wished Burnham success but pointedly expressed hope that those who had not shown loyalty to Starmer would now be loyal to the new leader.

Reeves, who had been the United Kingdom's first female chancellor,...