Andy Burnham pledges to 'bring back hope' as John Healey made chancellor
Newly appointed UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has pledged to 'bring back hope' and initiate major political changes, including a 10-year national plan. He has reshuffled his cabinet, appointing John Healey as chancellor and moving several key figures into new ministerial roles.
Why it matters
Marks a significant shift in UK governance and economic policy direction following the removal of the previous administration's loyalists.
Image source, Jeff Overs/BBC By Richard Wheeler , Political reporter and Jack Fenwick , Political correspondent Published 20 July 2026 Andy Burnham pledged to "bring back hope" to Britain, as he began his tenure as prime minister by appointing Labour stalwart John Healey as chancellor.
In his first speech to the nation in Downing Street, Burnham said he wanted to bring forward the "biggest changes in the last 40 years" to British politics.
He outlined his intention to unveil a 10-year "new plan for Britain" later this year, explaining this would lay out a path to where he believes "we all want Britain to be".
Burnham promised to make announcements this week to "give people some breathing space now, some help with the cost of living" and explain how he would pay for them.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in