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Tuesday, July 21, 2026

Shabana ​Mahmood retained as home secretary as Burnham announces ministerial appointments

Mr Burnham pledged to deliver a new economic model and revive the country.

• July 21, 2026

Shabana ​Mahmood has been retained as the British Home Secretary as the new United Kingdom’s Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced his ministerial appointments on Monday.

Mr Burnham took over from former prime minister Keir Starmer who resigned from the office over unpopular policies.

Shortly after he took over the office, Mr Burnham, the Britain’s seventh prime minister in a decade, announced his ministerial team, pledging to deliver a new economic model and revive the country.

Mr Burnham retained Ms Mahmood as the Secretary of State for the Home Department following her appointment by Mr Stammer in September last year.

Also, John Healey was named the Chancellor of the Exchequer (finance minister) after Rachel Reeves left Mr Starmer’s cabinet amid friction within the Labour Party.

Mr Healey, 66, left Mr Starmer’s government last month ​after accusing him of failing to invest enough money in its military.

Mr Burnham also named Ed ‌Miliband (Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs), Yvette Cooper (Secretary of State for Health and Social Care), Miatta Fahnbulleh (Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero), Wes ‌Streeting

(Secretary of State for Defence) Jonathan ​Reynolds (Secretary of State for Business, Innovation, Science and Trade) and ​Angela ⁠Rayner (Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government).

He also named Louise Haigh (Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and minister for the Cabinet Office), Angela Rayner (Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government), Lucy Powell (Secretary of State for Education), Anneliese Midgley (parliamentary secretary to the treasury, chief whip), Alex Norris (Lord Chancellor and Secretary of state for justice), Dame Angela Eagle (Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), Stephen Kinnock (Secretary of State for Wales) and Chris Bryant (Secretary of State for Northern Ireland).

While Ellie Reeves was appointed as Attorney General, Emma Reynolds becomes Chief Secretary to the Treasury. Both will attend cabinet.

Also retained are Heidi Alexander (Secretary of State for Transport), Pat McFadden (Secretary of State for Work and Pensions), Bridget Phillipson (Minister for Women and Equalities, reporting to the Prime Minister), Douglas Alexander (Secretary of State for Scotland), Alan Campbell (Lord President of the Council and Leader of the House of Commons), Baroness Smith (Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House of Lords and Matthew Pennycook (Minister of State in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government).

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