Andy Burnham appoints Wes Streeting to cabinet after controversy over transgender rights
Wes Streeting returns to the Labour cabinet, though not as health secretary but as defence secretary
By Aaron Sugg
Andy Burnham has appointed his parliamentary cabinet after being sworn in as the UK’s new prime minister yesterday (20 July 2026).
Following Keir Starmer’s official resignation to King Charles III, Burnham, the former mayor of Greater Manchester, met the King shortly afterwards and was invited to form a government as his successor.
All eyes were on Number 10 yesterday as Labour MPs walked through Downing Street to meet the new PM and be offered a place in his cabinet.
Who is in Andy Burnham’s cabinet?
Among those appointed were former Labour leader Ed Miliband as foreign secretary, former Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner as housing secretary, and Yvette Cooper as health secretary.
Lucy Powell has been appointed education secretary, while Bridget Phillipson remains Women and equalities minister but is no longer education secretary.
One appointment that may come as a surprise is Wes Streeting‘s return to the Labour cabinet, not as health secretary but as defence secretary.
What is Wes Streeting’s role in Burnham’s cabinet?
According to the official UK Government website: “The Secretary of State for Defence has overall responsibility for the business of the department.”
“Responsibilities include: strategic policy and operational oversight, including as a member of the National Security Council; the nuclear deterrent (CASD); and operations policy and enterprise.”
Since resigning from Starmer’s government earlier this spring, Streeting has made several interventions on defence spending, backing the introduction of “war bonds” to raise funds and calling for outdated military programmes to be scrapped.
Does Streeting have what it takes?
However, he has never held a foreign affairs or defence-related brief, and his appointment is likely to prompt scepticism among those who believe the role should ideally be filled by someone with military experience.
Streeting’s place in the cabinet has sparked backlash from parts of the trans community. During his almost two-year tenure as health secretary, he oversaw restrictions that left under-18s without access to puberty blockers.
In 2024, the former health secretary, who is openly gay, introduced a ban on prescribing puberty blockers to transgender young people under the age of 18, citing the controversial Cass Review.
Streeting’s impact on trans rights
Following the suspension of the PATHWAYS trial after it was launched in 2025, NHS England, under his tenure, stopped issuing new prescriptions for gender-affirming hormones to 16- and 17-year-olds.
Prior to this resignation, ten LGBTQ+ youth organisations urged Streeting to reverse the restrictions on gender-affirming care and to “start listening to the trans young people his decisions impact”.
Streeting’s involvement in Burnham’s cabinet raises serious questions about his stance on transgender issues. Yvette Cooper will now face pressure to reverse the policies introduced under Streeting’s tenure.
Who is in Andy Burnham’s cabinet?
- John Healey – chancellor
- Louise Haigh – chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
- Ed Miliband – foreign secretary
- Shabana Mahmood – home secretary
- Wes Streeting – defence secretary
- Yvette Cooper – health secretary
- Lucy Powell – education secretary
- Pat McFadden – work and pensions secretary
- Angela Rayner – housing secretary
- Jonathan Reynolds – business and trade secretary
- Bridget Phillipson – women and equalities minister
- Lisa Nandy – culture secretary
- Miatta Fahnbulleh – energy secretary
- Alex Norris – justice secretary
- Heidi Alexander – transport secretary
- Angela Eagle – environment secretary
- Sir Chris Bryant – secretary of state for Northern Ireland
- Douglas Alexander – secretary of state for Scotland
- Stephen Kinnock – secretary of state for Wales
- Emma Reynolds – chief secretary to the Treasury
- Anneliese Midgley – chief ship
- Ellie Reeves – attorney general
- Alan Campbell – leader of the House of Commons
- Baroness Smith of Basildon – leader of the House of Lords
- Hamish Falconer – minister for intergovernmental relations
- Kanishka Narayan – minister for artificial intelligence
- Matthew Pennycook – housing minister