UK: Who is John Healey, the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Burnham government?

Andy Burnham has only been British Prime Minister for a few hours, but he has already shown that he is capable of springing a surprise.

In fact, no one had anticipated his appointment as Chancellor of the Exchequer, perhaps the most sensitive role in the new government. The post has been given to John Healey, a highly respected party veteran who had resigned as Defence Secretary in the previous government led by Keir Starmer in protest at what he considered to be insufficient funding for defence. Regarded as a man of strong principles but also a pragmatist capable of working with everyone, Healey has also worked at the Treasury for years and therefore knows how to manage public finances.

Equally unexpected was the appointment of Ed Miliband as Foreign Secretary: the former Environment Secretary and former Labour Party leader, a close ally of Burnham for many years, was, according to rumours, in the running to become Chancellor. By promoting him to the Foreign Office, the new Prime Minister has solved two problems in one fell swoop: he has avoided a negative reaction from the markets to Miliband’s appointment to the Treasury – as he is considered too left-wing – and he can appoint a more flexible figure to the Environment Ministry. The environmentalist Miliband had, in fact, come out against a resumption of drilling in the North Sea, which, according to rumours, is viewed favourably by the new Prime Minister. It is, however, a risky choice, given that Miliband has no experience in foreign affairs – just like Burnham – and for this reason the appointment of an expert was expected. Among the names mentioned in recent days was that of David Miliband, Ed’s brother and former Foreign Secretary in Gordon Brown’s government, who left politics years ago.

The only sign of continuity with Keir Starmer’s outgoing government is Shabana Mahmood, who has been reappointed as Home Secretary. Known for her hardline stance on illegal immigration, Mahmood has earned a reputation as a capable and unyielding implementer of the government’s strategy. Her stance is expected to become more ‘lenient’ in the Burnham government, in line with the guidance provided by the new Prime Minister, who is opposed to an iron-fisted approach towards immigrants, particularly those who arrived in Britain some time ago.

Burnham had said he wanted a government that reflected “all the different strands” of the Labour Party, but he has sidelined all of Starmer’s allies. Mahmood, in fact, had distanced herself from the former prime minister some time ago, advising him to resign.