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LSE alumni appointed as government ministers by Prime Minister Andy Burnham

Thursday 23 July 2026

The new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Rt Hon Andy Burnham MP, took office on 20 July 2026 and has now appointed his government, featuring several LSE alumni as secretaries of state and ministers.

Congratulations to all LSE alumni in government: we wish them the very best as they take on, or continue, their important governmental roles.

  • A headshot of Yvette Cooper

    The Rt Hon Yvette Cooper MP is the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.

    Cooper has been the MP for Pontefract, Castleford and Knottingley since 1997.

    Cooper graduated from LSE with an MSc in Economics in 1995.

    Photo by Lauren Hurley / No 10 Downing Street - Prime Minister Keir Starmer reshuffles Cabinet, OGL 3, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=175662525

  • A headshot of Miatta Fahnbulleh

    The Rt Hon Miatta Fahnbulleh MP is the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero.

    Fahnbulleh has been the MP for Peckham since 2024.

    Fahnbulleh graduated from LSE with an MSc/PhD in Economic History in 2006.

    Photo by ©House of Commons / Roger Harris, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=150367847

  • A headshot of Louise Haigh

    The Rt Hon Louise Haigh MP is the First Secretary of State, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and Minister for the Cabinet Office.

    Haigh has been the MP for Sheffield Heeley since 2015.

    Haigh studied for a BSc in Government and Economics in 2006.

    Photo by Lauren Hurley / No 10 Downing Street - Number 10 Flickr page, OGL 3, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=150046975

  • A headshot of Ed Miliband

    The Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP is the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs.

    Miliband has been the MP for Doncaster North since 2005.

    Miliband graduated from LSE with an MSc in Economics in 1996.

    Photo by UK Government - Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Ed Miliband, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=189449914

  • A headshot of Matthew Pennycook

    The Rt Hon Matthew Pennycook MP is the Minister of State (Minister for Housing and Planning) in the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and will be attending cabinet.

    Pennycook has been the MP for Greenwich and Woolwich since 2015.

    Pennycook graduated from LSE with a BSc in International Relations and History in 2005.

    Photo by Richard Townshend - https://members-api.parliament.uk/api/Members/4520/Portrait?cropType=ThreeFourGallery: https://members.parliament.uk/member/4520/portrait, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=86678897

In addition to the new appointments above, the following LSE alumna and a former member of staff also hold ministerial positions:

  • Georgia Gould OBE MP is the Minister of State (Minister for School Standards) in the Department for Education since September 2025.
    Gould has been the MP for Queen’s Park and Maida Vale since July 2024.
    Gould graduated from LSE with a MSc in Global Politics in 2011.
  • Sarah Sackman KC MP is a Minister of State for Courts and Legal Services in the Ministry of Justice since May 2024.
    Sackman has been the MP for Finchley and Golders Green since July 2024.
    Sackman is a former Visiting Professor in the LSE Cities programme.

These appointments demonstrate the contributions of LSE alumni to shaping public policy and benefiting society.

July 2026