UK PM Andy Burnham removes senior ministers from cabinet

New British Prime Minister Andy Burnham began his tenure on Monday, July 20, 2026, with a sweeping Cabinet reshuffle, removing several senior ministers who were close allies of his predecessor, Sir Keir Starmer. The most prominent departures included Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves, and Environment Secretary Steve Reed.

Burnham became prime minister earlier in the day after accepting King Charles III's invitation to form a government, succeeding Starmer who had led the Labour administration since the 2024 general election. In his first speech outside 10 Downing Street, Burnham pledged a "circuit breaker" moment to end a cycle of political failure and cynicism. He promised sweeping reforms focused on devolving power from central government, addressing the cost-of-living crisis, and launching a program to end rough sleeping.

The ministerial changes mark Burnham's immediate effort to build his own governing team. Lammy announced his departure on social media, stating that while he would have been proud to continue, a new prime minister is entitled to build his own team. He wished Burnham success and pledged to...