New British Prime Minister Burnham reshuffles cabinet and speaks with Trump

Phone calls with Trump and Zelensky

In his conversation with Trump, Burnham affirmed, according to Downing Street, that the security of the United Kingdom and its allies was the top priority of his political agenda. According to the statement, the prime minister also declared that his focus lay on the reindustrialization of the entire country. Details of the content of the call were not initially made public.

Shortly after his appointment, Burnham also made personnel changes in his cabinet. John Healey, who had already served as Defence Secretary under former prime minister Keir Starmer and had resigned from the cabinet in June in protest at Starmer's course, was appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer. According to the assessment of British observers, Healey's appointment is intended to send a signal of continuity in security and economic policy.

Cabinet reshuffle and new personnel

Several of Starmer's confidants no longer play a leading role under the new prime minister. These include the former Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy as well as the former Chancellor Rachel Reeves. Lammy said of this: "I would have been proud to continue serving in the cabinet. But a new prime minister has the right to assemble his own team." The statement was attributed to the PA news agency.

The change at the top of the British government comes against the backdrop of a recently cooled relationship between Downing Street and the White House. According to British media reports, the relationship had noticeably cooled during Starmer's tenure, a development that the coverage attributes above all to Trump. Trump was last received for a state visit by King Charles III in September 2025.

International reactions

Reactions from abroad came from, among others, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU), who congratulated Burnham on taking office at midday. In a letter from Merz, it reads: "The United Kingdom and Germany are close allies and partners. Especially in these times, our deep bond is proving itself. I would very much like to discuss the challenges ahead with you and therefore gladly invite you to visit Berlin soon." With the invitation to Berlin, the German government underscores its desire for close coordination with the new leadership in London.

Burnham, who according to the available information is 56 years old, was active as a politician in Greater Manchester before his move to Westminster. The available statements did not provide further details on the exact circumstances of his nomination as prime minister or on the policies of the new government. Downing Street likewise did not initially comment on the duration of the current legislative term or the timing of the next regular general election.

Background and analysis

Observers see the swift contact with Washington as a sign that Burnham wants to rebuild closer ties with the United States. British media also highlighted that, with the call to Zelensky, support for Ukraine has once again been marked as a priority of British foreign policy. Both phone calls took place on the day of his appointment.

The news of the appointment and the first personnel decisions was reported from London by the dpa-AFX agency. Further details, in particular on the filling of other ministerial posts and on the parliamentary majority of the new prime minister, were not mentioned in the available sources.