Andy Burnham made many changes in his first 24 hours as the UK prime minister. On Monday, he removed several people who worked with former prime minister Keir Starmer. He chose John Healey as chancellor. The chancellor manages the government’s money. Healey was defence secretary before, but he left that job five weeks earlier after a disagreement about money for the military.

Burnham also gave government jobs to Wes Streeting and Miatta Fahnbulleh. Streeting became defence secretary, and Fahnbulleh became energy secretary. Both had left Starmer’s government before Burnham became prime minister. Burnham’s government also cut VAT, a type of tax, on home energy bills. The Conservatives support the tax cut, but they asked how the government will pay for it.

People in all UK political parties are now preparing for a possible early general election. Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, says Burnham should call an election because voters did not choose him as prime minister. Burnham has said he does not plan to call one. However, an early election could give him five years in power and support for more changes. It could also put Labour members at risk of losing their seats.