Swipe for next article In The Room | Inside Andy Burnham’s No 10 takeover Andy Burnham is planning a major shake-up of the Foreign Office as one of his first acts as prime minister after he takes over from Sir Keir Starmer on Monday. Senior Labour sources have told The Independent that “lieutenants of Andy Burnham” have been reaching out to expertise within the party over how to reform the Foreign Office, with Ed Miliband considered for foreign secretary.Mr Burnham also intends to announce more drilling for oil and gas and scrap Sir Keir’s controversial digital ID plans as he prepares for a policy blitz on his first day as PM. Speaking ahead of Mr Burnham’s coronation on Monday, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch vowed to “score as many points as possible” against the former Manchester mayorif it is the “right thing for the country”.Speaking to the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg in an interview that will be broadcast on Sunday, the leader of the opposition warned the incoming prime minister might face a “rude awakening” in office, branding him a “people pleaser”, saying that she would not give him a “blank cheque”.RecommendedAndy Burnham tells Labour: I’m your last chance
Published: July 18, 2026 6:00 pm
Source: The Independent — Read original