John Healey was pictured walking up Downing Street as Andy Burnham began appointing his cabinet. He had quit as Keir Starmer's defence secretary last month, and he was among the first arrivals at Downing Street.
Burnham said cost of living measures would be outlined from tomorrow after promising a 10-year plan in his first speech as PM. He also said, "This moment will be a circuit breaker for Britain," while pledging to end rough sleeping and build more council homes.
Downing Street arrivals
Healey's arrival put a face on the first visible stage of Burnham's reshuffle. Rachel Reeves is out as chancellor, David Lammy is out as deputy prime minister, and Steve Reed, Peter Kyle, Liz Kendall and Lord Richard Hermer are no longer in government.
That leaves Burnham to fill the cabinet posts around the departures before the new team can settle into its work. Darren Jones said Andy Burnham called him to tell him he would not be part of his new cabinet, adding another sign that the line-up is being drawn quickly.
Burnham's first speech
Keir Starmer formally resigned earlier, with good grace and a smile, before the handover to Burnham. Lord Vallance resigned as science minister earlier today, adding to the turnover that was already under way.
Burnham and US President Donald Trump have spoken, but the immediate test is domestic: whether the cabinet appointments match the promises he has already made. Healey arrived without any public role being set out for him, so the first question is not whether the reshuffle has started, but where he fits in it.
For now, the move is the clearest signal that the new government is being assembled from the top down, with the next details due from Burnham's own team from tomorrow.
