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A transition in government has taken place, with a new administration eager to make a notable impact through its initial policy moves.
Andy Burnham has begun his first full day in office by pledging to reduce the VAT on household electricity bills starting from 1 October. Over the coming days, the prime minister and his senior team are expected to be highly visible, touring the country, presenting their policies, and building support.
The newly formed cabinet is scheduled to convene for the first time at midday. The process of appointing ministers stretched late into the night, with a group of hopeful candidates waiting in Downing Street well past 10 pm to learn their roles. Among the last appointments announced was the defence secretary post, awarded to Wes Streeting, who had recently stepped down as health secretary—his resignation having previously weakened the former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer’s position.
One of the key themes of the reshuffle was the surprising exclusion of two leading contenders for the chancellorship, Shabana Mahmood and Ed Miliband, in favor of John Healey. Additionally, several ministers loyal to the former prime minister—such as David Lammy, Darren Jones, Peter Kyle, Lord Hermer, Steve Reed, and Rachel Reeves—were removed from their posts, though Reeves reportedly declined a cabinet offer.
John Healey’s selection as chancellor is notable given his prior experience within the Treasury during 2002 to 2007, where he served first as economic secretary and then as financial secretary. According to senior officials, Healey’s economic philosophy aligns closely with Burnham’s vision, emphasizing reindustrialization and increased devolution.
Interestingly, Healey had recently voiced sharp criticisms of the Treasury, describing what he called a “Treasury orthodoxy that’s a dead hand on dynamic government” and expressing frustration that defence spending was seen more as a “drain rather than a driver of growth.” He also criticized the rigid timelines imposed by the Treasury, stating, “our adversaries do not follow timetables set by the Treasury.”
A Whitehall insider familiar with defence matters pointed out that Healey, upon resigning as defence secretary, insisted in his letter that Britain must commit to reaching a defence spending target of 3% of GDP by 2030. Now, as chancellor, it falls to him to balance these financial commitments.
His responsibilities will extend beyond mere numbers, as he must also navigate complex economic realities and ambitious national goals in his new role
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