Andy Burnham has carried out a sweeping cabinet reshuffle within hours of becoming prime minister, removing ministers closely associated with his predecessor, Sir Keir Starmer, while restoring several senior Labour figures to government. The purge, which saw more than nine ministers sacked, signals a decisive break from the Starmer era and sets the tone for how Burnham intends to run his administration, with appointments suggesting shifts in priorities on defence, foreign policy and housing.

Among the losers were David Lammy, Darren Jones, Rachel Reeves and Peter Kyle, all of whom left government. The winners include John Healey, promoted to chancellor in a surprise move after previously criticising the Treasury over defence spending; Ed Miliband, made foreign secretary with reports of a planned Foreign Office shake-up including a return to 0.7 per cent of GDP on international aid; Louise Haigh, brought back as First Secretary of State and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster; Angela Rayner, reinstated as housing secretary after being cleared by HMRC over her tax affairs; and Alex Norris, promoted to justice secretary in place of Lammy.