UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham announces new cabinet appointments

On July 20, 2026, Downing Street announced key appointments in the new British government led by Prime Minister Andy Burnham. Ed Miliband, former Labour Party leader and recent Energy Secretary under Keir Starmer, has been appointed as the new Foreign Secretary. John Healey, 66, who resigned as Defense Secretary last month due to disputes over military funding, has been named the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Shabana Mahmood will remain in her position as Home Secretary, maintaining her role despite recent political shifts. Healey previously served as a junior Treasury minister from 2002 to 2007. His appointment is widely viewed as a move to prioritize increased investment in defense and national security. These cabinet changes follow the resignation of several senior ministers during the transition of government.