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Andy Burnham’s Cabinet is meeting at Downing Street for the first time, after the Prime Minister was hit with a shock Labour attack on his first day in office.
The new leader earlier announced that VAT will be removed from household electricity bills in a cost-of-living boost to millions.
The tax cut, taking the rate from 5% to 0%, will come into force on October 1, the new Prime Minister said on Tuesday morning. The government said this will be funded by scrapping Sir Keir Starmer’s digital ID scheme.
However the move came in for harsh criticism from Darren Jones, who was sacked on Monday as chief secretary to the prime minister.
He said the Digital ID scheme was “unfunded”, adding: “The government will have to set out how it will pay for its new policies at the budget. It comes as Mr Burnham prepares to chair the first meeting of his newly-appointed Cabinet.
The new premier promised to provide early “breathing space” for households struggling with the cost of living in his first address to the nation as PM on Monday.
On Monday evening, he made sweeping changes to the Cabinet, starting with the appointment of John Healey as the new Chancellor to succeed Rachel Reeves.
A swathe of major figures from Sir Keir’s era joined Ms Reeves in leaving Government, including ex-deputy prime minister David Lammy, former attorney general Lord Hermer and former housing secretary Steve Reed.
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Burnham vows to "show how we're going to pay"
In front of the media, Andy Burnham told his Cabinet that they will “seek to do more” with plans to be set out in the coming days.
“But always we will show how we are going to pay for it, what we are reprioritising. That will be a theme that we will always come back to,” he said.
Burnham pledges to lead a "cost-of-living government"
In his first Cabinet meeting as Prime Minister, Andy Burnham has called on his top team to “deliver for people.”
He said: “What can we do just to take that little bit of pressure off people’s shoulders, just to give them that little extra sense that help is coming so that they can have that bit of hope that things are getting better.
“And that’s the mission that we’ve got to set ourselves together.”
He asked his colleagues to look into what their department could do to ease cost-of-living pressures, “big and small”.
“We need to be a cost-of-living Government, getting that cost of living down, looking at all possible ways of doing that.”
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has promised to lead a ‘cost-of-living government’ (Chris Furlong/PA)PA WireFarage calls for general election
As Andy Burnham’s first Cabinet meeting gets underway, Nigel Farage has launched yet another blistering attack on the new Prime Minister.
Mr Farage repeatedly said at a rally in Wymondham that Andy Burnham had “no mandate.”
“This man has no mandate whatsoever,” he said.
“We want and we demand a general election. It’s right and proper that we have a general election now.”
The party has now launched a website, named andyhasnomandate.com, to petition for a general election.
The Reform UK party leader stepped down from his seat in Clacton earlier this month while an investigation over undeclared gifts is carried out, but is expected to stand in the consequent by-election in August.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage speaking during a Reform UK rally at Kimberley Hall in Wymondham, Norfolk PAFor Andy Burnham 'revenge' was a dish served piping hot to the new PM on his first full day in No10
Revenge is a dish best served cold, so the saying goes.
But Sir Keir Starmer’s top ally Darren Jones launched a withering attack on Andy Burnham in the full heat of a change of Government.
His intervention immediately raised potentially damaging questions for Mr Burnham before he had even chaired his first Cabinet meeting after becoming Prime Minister on Monday.
You can read the full piece here, as The Standard’s chief reporter Nic Cecil reports
For Andy Burnham 'revenge' was a dish served piping hot to the new PM
Commentary: Keir Starmer key ally Darren Jones fires missile into centre of Burnham government with startling attack over energy bills
Who is in the new Cabinet?
Ahead of the first meeting of Andy Burnham’s new Cabinet, you can see the full list of who's in and who's out here.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham's cabinet appointmentsPAMinisters arrive for Burnham's first Cabinet Meeting
The first ministers have arrived for Andy Burnham’s first Cabinet meeting as Prime Minister.
Lucy Powell and Miatta Fahnbulleh arrived, before Wes Streeting and Chris Bryant entered No 10 together.
Angela Rayner then arrived for the meeting, which is scheduled to begin at 12.30pm.
Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh arrives at 10 Downing Street for Prime Minister Andy Burnham's first cabinet meetingGettyThe Chief Whip Anneliese Midgley entered No 10 before Dame Angela Eagle, the new Environmental Secretary.
Jonathan Reynolds, the Business and Trade Secretary arrived with AI Minister Kanishka Narayan and Justice Secretary Alex Norris.
The new Chancellor John Healey was next to arrive, followed by Bridget Phillipson, who was swapped from Education Secretary to Equalities Minister.
New Chancellor of the Exchequer John Healey arrives at 10 Downing Street for Prime Minister Andy Burnham's first cabinet meetingGettyProportion of state educated Cabinet ministers falls
Analysis of the new Cabinet has found that the proportion of state educated Cabinet ministers has fallen.
The Sutton Trust data shows that 72% of the new Cabinet went to state comprehensives, while 24% attended private schools - despite only 7% of the overall population attending private schools.
When the Labour government was elected in 2024, the previous Cabinet was the most representative of the UK ever recorded in terms of education backgrounds.
There were a record number of state-educated ministers and the lowest proportion of privately educated ministers since 1945, at 8%.
More Ministers in the first Burnham Cabinet were educated in the North compared to both the Sunak and Starmer Cabinets, according to the data.
41% of this Cabinet were educated in the North of England, compared to 19% under Rishi Sunak and 31% under Sir Keir Starmer,
Pat McFadden and Yvette Cooper are both part of Andy Burnham’s CabinetPA WireTrump reveals details of Burnham phone call
Donald Trump has said Andy Burnham “has got a big job ahead of him, but he will be able to do it” and pledged that the US “will be there to help”.
In a message on his Truth Social platform, the president also wished the new Prime Minister “good luck and godspeed”.
The early endorsement of the former Greater Manchester mayor by the American leader comes after the pair spoke on the phone within an hour of the Makerfield MP arriving in Downing Street.
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Donald Trump and Andy Burnham spoke on the phone on MondayThe StandardIn his Truth Social Post, Mr Trump said: “I had a very good conversation with the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Andy Burnham.
“We discussed many subjects, including the outstanding relationship we have had with the UK.
“We will be meeting in the not too distant future for topics of mutual interest.”
He added: “The Prime Minister has got a big job ahead of him, but he will be able to do it and, of course, the USA will be there to help!
“We discussed North Sea Oil, Trade, the Military Alliance, Demining of the Hormuz Strait, and many other topics.
“The call was interesting, and went very well. I wished Prime Minister Burnham, GOOD LUCK AND GODSPEED!”
Badenoch questions funding over energy costs
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has said that she welcomes "action to cut the cost of energy", but has questioned how it will be funded.
Ms Badenoch posted on X that energy prices are "too high because of Ed Miliband's policies".
She added: "The question is how will Burnham fund all his new policies without putting up taxes or borrowing even more."
The government says scrapping plans for digital ID will fund the VAT cut on electricity bills - but Ms Badenoch said "you can’t use the funding from an unfunded programme to pay for cheaper bills".
Burnham's wife makes fashion statement in £850 Victoria Beckham dress
Andy Burnham swapped his signature black t-shirt for a suit on Monday as he officially became Prime Minister, yet it was his wife, Marie-France van Heel, who really stole the show.
The Dutch-born marketing executive traded her high-street look last week for the epitome of British high fashion as she braced for life inside No10.
Ms van Heel lived up to her reputation as the “coolest girl in college” in a lilac gown designed by another one of Britain’s “first ladies”, Victoria Beckham.
The 56-year-old stunned in the elegant £850 midi dress, which is made from crepe and features cape sleeves with a fitted waist.
You can read the full story here:
Burnham's wife makes No10 fashion statement in £850 Victoria Beckham dress
All eyes were on Marie-France van Heel as Andy Burnham officially became Prime Minister
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