The three South Yorkshire MPs chosen by Prime Minister Andy Burnham to join his top team
The region is involved in some of the key cabinet positions
Three South Yorkshire MPs have ascended to top positions in the newly-founded Labour Government.
After months of speculation Andy Burnham officially became Prime Minister on Monday, July 21 after the resignation of Sir Keir Starmer.
Having visited King Charles III and being invited to form a new Government at around midday, the Makerfield MP headed to Number 10 to get to work.
Throughout the evening, cabinet positions were announced, with three South Yorkshire MPs taking some of the top spots in the new Goverment.
In his maiden speech outside Downing Street, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said: “Britain needs to show the world that we can regain our stability once again, and that is our challenge, to make politics work, to make it work better.
“I know people at home are fed up with politics. I hear you. And I want to be honest with you. We have not been good enough, and we need to be better.
“We will be.
“We will make this moment a circuit breaker for Britain, bringing forward the biggest changes in the last forty years.
“A new political model and a new economic model.”
John Healey - Chancellor of the Exchequer
Former Defence Secretary John Healey was one of the first spotted heading through the doors of Number 10 after the PM finished his announcement speech.
The Rawmarsh and Conisbrough MP resigned from Sir Keir Starmer’s Government on June 11, however just over a month later is back in Downing Street and in a turn of events few expected is taking over one of the most difficult positions.
He cited concerns over the Defence Investment Plan (DIP) for his departure, and within their first day in office the Government has announced they will slash VAT on electricity bills from October.
As Chancellor of the Exchequer, Healey - who lives in Rotherham - will be in charge of growing the UK economy.
Healey has served as an MP since 1997, holding junior ministerial positions under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown and serving as a Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Chancellor between 1999 to 2001.
John Healey said: “It is the greatest privilege to be appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer by the Prime Minister.
“Together, we will build a new economy, build new hope and advance the working people of this country.
“Time to get on with the job.”
Ed Miliband - Foreign Secretary
A stalwart member of the Labour front-benches, Doncaster North MP Ed Miliband has been representing the region since 2005.
Having previously sat as Leader of the Labour party, running in a failed bid against David Cameron’s Conservatives in 2015, Miliband returned to the forefront under Sir Keir Starmer’s Leadership.
He served in Labour’s shadow cabinet from 2020, before becoming Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero after the 2024 general election.
Now, he has been appointed as Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, and in his first statement has prioritised standing “shoulder to shoulder with the people of Ukraine” and “working tirelessly to seek a sustainable peace in Palestine and Israel”.
Ed Miliband said: “It is a great honour and privilege to have been appointed by the Prime Minister to serve as Foreign Secretary.
“My parents came to Britain as Jewish refugees from the Nazis. To them, Britain was both a sanctuary and a beacon of hope in the global fight against fascism. I will carry my parents' faith in that spirit of Britain to my role representing our country.
“I will be a Foreign Secretary who fights for Britain's interests and our values of democracy, freedom and the rule of law on the world stage.”
Louise Haigh - First Secretary of State
Sheffield Healey MP Louise Haigh received one of the more unusual cabinet positions, having now been titled the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
Unlike other roles, this does not see Haigh oversee a specific department and will rather work across Government offices to help the PM achieve his goals - functioning similar to a chief of staff.
Alongside this title, she has also been appointed First Secretary of State and Minister for the Cabinet Office, more traditional title that roughly equates to the role of Deputy Prime Minister.
Haigh has been working closely with Burnham through his recent rise to power, leading his election campaign in Makerfield in June this year.
She had previously served as Secretary of State for Transport in 2024, becoming the youngest ever female cabinet minister, however resigned after controversy around a previous fraud conviction from her twenties made the news.
In the years since, she has insisted that the case - in which after a mugging she made a false report to the police regarding a stolen phone that she later found - was a “genuine mistake” and she had pleaded guilty on the advice of her lawyer.
Louise Haigh said of her new appointment: “Yesterday I joined Andy Burnham on Downing Street as he entered Number 10 as Prime Minister and set out his plan to bring back hope.
“It is an honour to join the cabinet as First Secretary of State, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the cabinet office.”