Andy Burnham confirmed as Prime Minister: what changes now

What actually happened today

• This morning — Keir Starmer gave a farewell address, saying his "work is done," before travelling to Buckingham Palace to formally resign.
• Shortly after — Burnham had his own audience with King Charles III — the "kissing hands" ceremony that transfers power — and was formally appointed Prime Minister.
• He returned to Downing Street and gave a first speech pledging an end to political instability, before beginning Cabinet appointments at the No.10 table.
• He is the UK's seventh Prime Minister in a decade, following Cameron, May, Johnson, Truss, Sunak and Starmer.

The first policy move: digital ID scrapped

Before taking office, Burnham confirmed he will not proceed with the planned national digital ID scheme. Allies say the resources earmarked for it will instead go towards cost-of-living support and local economies, as part of what his team is calling a "reset" of government priorities — his first concrete break from Keir Starmer's policy programme, and a signal of where he wants attention in his first weeks. It is, so far, the only confirmed policy change; everything else discussed during the leadership contest — see our full policy rundown — remains a campaign position, not law.

The Cabinet reshuffle so far

The full team, confirmed through the day:

• Chancellor: John Healey — a surprise pick after weeks of speculation over Cooper, Mahmood and Miliband. Full profile on our Chancellor page.
• Foreign Secretary: Ed Miliband — moves from Energy Secretary.
• Health Secretary: Yvette Cooper — moves from Foreign Secretary.
• Home Secretary: Shabana Mahmood — stays in post.
• Out of Cabinet: Rachel Reeves (Chancellor), David Lammy (Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary), Liz Kendall (Science and Technology), Lord Hermer (Attorney General) and Steve Reed (Housing Secretary), following Lord James Timpson's resignation as a minister ahead of the reshuffle.

Healey inherits the same arithmetic — frozen thresholds, existing borrowing rules, and a grim fiscal backdrop heading into the autumn. See Budget watch for what that means in practice.

What doesn't change

• No general election is triggered. The UK elects a parliament, not a Prime Minister, so the governing party can change leader — and PM — without one. The next election is still due by August 2029.
• Everything already legislated stays legislated unless a Budget or bill changes it: frozen thresholds to 2030/31, the mansion tax from April 2028, the eVED pay-per-mile charge, and the two-child limit abolition.
• Burnham's campaign positions are still just positions. The Proportional Property Tax he's backed and the wider Prosperity 2030 blueprint remain unlegislated ideas, not government policy, until a Budget says otherwise.

See where you stand

• Burnham's income tax threshold rise — his first cost-of-living move, with a calculator.
• Burnham's rent controls — a freeze or cap, under consideration.
• Who will be the next Chancellor? — the full field, updated as it's confirmed.
• Proportional Property Tax calculator — the Burnham-backed plan, on your home.
• Council tax calculator — what you pay under today's system.
• Andy Burnham — full profile and record.

Sources & further reading

• Al Jazeera — Burnham pledges an end to political instability as he becomes PM.
• ABC News — Burnham becomes PM after meeting King Charles III.
• Washington Times — Britain's 7th PM in a decade.
• ITV News — Burnham to scrap digital ID in a "reset of priorities".
• ITV News — John Healey made Chancellor, Ed Miliband Foreign Secretary.
• Politics.co.uk — the full Cabinet in/out list.
• Yahoo News UK — Cabinet appointments in full, as they happen.
• LabourList — live updates as Burnham appoints his Cabinet.

This is a fast-moving story; details above reflect reporting as of the morning of 20 July 2026 and may change within hours. Not financial, legal or tax advice.