Healey, Haigh, Mahmood: Who’s Who in Burnham’s New UK Cabinet

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Those changes started with his cabinet.Author of the article:Alex Morales, Ellen Milligan and Lucy White You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.John Healey Photographer: Andy Rain/EPA/Bloomberg Photo by Andy Rain /Bloomberg(Bloomberg) — Delivering his first speech as UK prime minister in front of the famous black door of 10 Downing Street, Andy Burnham promised to bring forward “the biggest changes in the last 40 years” for Britain. Those changes started with his cabinet.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLYSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman, and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESCreate an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountBurnham began making appointments in the late afternoon on Monday, but before that there were a string of big-name resignations from ministers who he either hadn’t found a role for, or had rejected what was on offer. Top of the pile was Rachel Reeves, Britain’s first female chancellor of the exchequer, who was replaced by John Healey, the former defense secretary in a surprise appointment.Also out were David Lammy, who had been deputy prime minister; Peter Kyle, who served as business secretary; and Steve Reed, who had been housing secretary. Including departing prime minister Keir Starmer, at least 11 members of the cabinet were shown the door. As of the early evening, only a handful of appointments had so far been announced. Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againSo who’s who in Burnham’s new cabinet? Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey, 66Healey’s appointment is unexpected, and comes at the expense of both Ed Miliband, the influential former Labour leader who was the early favorite for the role, and Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, who in recent days seemed like a shoo-in for the promotion.His return to government comes six weeks after he resigned as defense secretary in a row over funding with the Treasury. As chancellor, he’ll now have to find the extra cash for defense that he said was so desperately needed. He has advocated for raising defense spending to 3% of GDP by 2030, a commitment that would cost billions of pounds, while ensuring the country is on track to meet its NATO promise of reaching 3.5% by 2035. He’s also called on the UK Treasury to join more multinational defense spending programs.Healey entered Parliament in the Tony Blair wave in 1997, and does have Treasury experience, having served for five years in junior ministerial roles in the early 2000s when Gordon Brown was chancellor. He held the position of Economic Secretary to the Treasury for three years and then spent two years as Financial Secretary to the Treasury, a role now often known as City Minister. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, 45Mahmood stays on as home secretary, a role she’s held since September. A daughter of migrants, Mahmood has been instrumental in devising immigration reforms which make it harder for refugees and low-paid migrants to gain permanent settlement. Those changes have made her a controversial figure in the Labour Party, but may help it fend off the threat of Nigel Farage’s right-wing Reform UK party.Born in Birmingham to parents of Pakistani origins, she studied law at the University of Oxford before qualifying as a barrister, a profession in which she worked until entering Parliament in 2010 after winning election in the constituency of Birmingham Ladywood. This advertisement has not loaded yet.This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, 56 Miliband was the early favorite to be named chancellor, but has instead landed another of the four so-called great offices of state, in the Foreign Office.Miliband served in Gordon Brown’s cabinet and then for five years as opposition leader before losing the 2015 general election to David Cameron’s Conservatives. He’s served the past two years as energy secretary — reprising his role under Brown — and was widely perceived as one of the cabinet’s most effective operators. That role has given him experience in one of the key global issues, climate change, and he has represented the UK at the annual United Nations climate talks.Miliband was a key figure in guiding Burnham to the leadership and has been advising him on economic policy. The main driver of net zero efforts in Starmer’s administration, Miliband’s departure from the energy brief clears the way for the new prime minister to relax curbs on drilling in the North Sea for oil and gas as well as ease the cost of living impact of green measures included in energy bills. Click here to read more about Ed Miliband. First Minister of State Louise Haigh, 38One of Burnham’s closest advisers, Haigh was based in Makerfield during his by-election campaign, and will now take up a key role with three titles: first secretary of state, which in the past has been analogous to deputy prime minister; Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister of State for the Cabinet Office. Essentially it means she’ll be Burnham’s key fixer liaising with the government departments and on legislation.Haigh previously served as Starmer’s transport secretary, pushing for greater investment in the transport network in northern England, before being forced to quit in late 2024 when it emerged she had a fraud conviction from a decade earlier. An influential figure on Labour’s soft left, she was a prominent rebel in the 2025 welfare vote, a pivotal moment that showed the party’s backbenchers had the power to force Starmer to change policy.Click here to read more about Louise Haigh.Health Secretary Yvette Cooper, 57Yvette Cooper’s move to the health department is a demotion for the veteran politician, who had been lobbying to remain as foreign secretary. Nevertheless, it’s a big role in which she’ll be responsible for delivering on a core 2024 election manifesto promise of cutting National Health Service waiting lists, as well as having responsibility for reforming social care, which Burnham has made a key mission. Cooper, 57, is a veteran of the Blair era, having entered Parliament in 1997. She studied politics, philosophy and economics at the University of Oxford, and worked as a Labour aide and journalist before entering Parliament. Before becoming foreign secretary, Cooper served as home secretary, and though she’s been criticized as slow to make decisions, she’s also seen as a serious politician and safe pair of hands. She is married to former Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls.Here are the key cabinet appointments we know about so far: —With assistance from Jacob Reid.Notice for the Postmedia NetworkThis website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.