Andy Burnham said he has not yet settled who will serve in his cabinet as he prepares to become prime minister on Monday, after taking over from Sir Keir Starmer following a reception with King Charles III. Speaking to reporters when asked why he had not announced his senior team, Burnham said it would be premature to begin reshaping roles before he formally takes office. He added that he is “finalising” his decisions and will reach conclusions “very shortly”, before making announcements on Monday. Speculation has continued about Burnham’s first appointments, with Ed Miliband and Shabana Mahmood widely viewed as potential contenders to replace Rachel Reeves as chancellor. Cabinet decisions and speculationBurnham returned to Parliament a month ago after winning a by-election, and his selection as Labour leader earlier this week was backed by 379 Labour MPs and all 11 trade unions affiliated to the party. Asked directly about who would be in the cabinet, he said he would announce the arrangements after he assumes office. In his first speech as Labour leader at the TUC headquarters in central London, he said the make-up of his cabinet would reflect “all parts of our party” and “all communities”. Early messages to Labour and devolutionBurnham used the speech to set out themes for his premiership, including a pledge to restore “hope” to working-class communities he said had been overlooked by the political class. He reiterated his plan to devolve power away from Westminster to the regions, presenting devolution as a central element of his approach. He also said the government he leads would bring the biggest change in decades and move away from “neoliberal” policies pursued over the past 40 years, including during his own time in government. Burnham said he would reindustrialise the country. In a message to Labour MPs, he urged party unity, warning that infighting would prevent Labour from defeating Britain’s “new right”. He said he wants a culture of “one Labour team” and described his style of government as “problem-solving rather than point-scoring”. He told the audience he has a plan and that he knows what he wants to do in office. Social care reform set as priorityWhile his TUC speech focused more on direction than detailed policy, he told reporters that reforming social care would be a top priority. He said he would commit substantial political effort to a sector he described as long neglected. Social care is devolved, meaning any reforms Burnham advances would apply to England. In discussing the scale of the challenge, he pointed to the fact that, unlike the NHS, social care is not free at the point of use. He said high costs can lead people to sell their homes to pay for care. Burnham has previously called for major change. As health secretary under Gordon Brown, he published a white paper in the weeks before the 2010 general election proposing a National Care Service that would be free at the point of use. Opposition and union reactionsNigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, said Burnham “comes in with absolutely no mandate of any kind at all” and called for an immediate general election for voters to decide the country’s direction. Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey welcomed Burnham’s call for more collaborative politics, adding that his party’s “door is open”. He said the Lib Dems would particularly want changes to the water industry, support for the NHS, and reform of social care, including more help for family carers. Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake said Burnham should recall Parliament, which is currently in recess until September, so MPs can put questions to him about his plan. Linda Hobson, from Unison, said Burnham must “get this right” and deliver the hope he has promised. Burnham’s rise to the premiership follows a rapid shift in Labour’s leadership trajectory after Starmer resigned last month, saying he was not best placed to lead the party into the next general election. Labour has trailed Reform UK in opinion polls for about 18 months, with heavy losses in May’s local elections before Burnham secured a by-election victory in Makerfield last month. On Friday, Burnham paid tribute to Starmer, citing improvements to workers’ and renters’ rights, lower NHS waiting lists and bringing rail back under public control. Join the discussion? 18 July 2026
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