Andy Burnham has become prime minister and unveiled his first cabinet, prompting scrutiny of what his top team and early moves reveal about the kind of government he intends to run. The appointments and his first speech outside Downing Street are being examined for signs of who holds real power in his administration, who has been sidelined, and whether his early promises are credible.

John Healey was named chancellor in a surprise choice, while Ed Miliband moved to the Foreign Office and Shabana Mahmood stayed on as home secretary. In his first speech as prime minister, delivered without the customary Downing Street lectern, Burnham pledged to end rough sleeping, reviving a flagship commitment from his time as mayor of Greater Manchester. The Independent's In The Room podcast dedicated its latest episode to unpicking these appointments and assessing the durability of his promises.