Prime Minister Andy Burnham appointed Sir Chris Bryant as the new Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on Sunday, his first full day in office after replacing Sir Keir Starmer as leader of the UK government.
Bryant takes over from Hilary Benn, who had held the Northern Ireland portfolio since 2024 under Starmer. Benn has stepped down and pledged to support Burnham from the backbenches.
The wider cabinet unveiled on 20 July saw several senior Starmer-era ministers depart, including Peter Kyle, Rachel Reeves, and David Lammy. Douglas Alexander retained his post as Secretary of State for Scotland, one of the few holdovers from the previous administration.