Steve Reed has left government within hours of Andy Burnham’s appointment as prime minister with a parting shot at “disloyal” MPs.
Reed, a longstanding ally of former prime minister Keir Starmer, said he was “disappointed to be leaving government now” but wished Burnham’s “new team every success”.
Reed was appointed to the post of secretary of state for housing, communities and local government in the September 2025 ministerial reshuffle. He served as secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs from July 2024 to September 2025.
Prior to the 2024 general election, which saw Labour returned to power after 14 years in opposition, Reed served extensively in the shadow cabinet, including as shadow secretary of state for environment, food and rural affairs (September 2023 – July 2024), shadow secretary of state for justice (November 2021 – September 2023), and shadow secretary of state for communities and local government (April 2020 – November 2021).
Reed therefore sat on the frontbench for the entirety of Keir Starmer’s tenure as Labour leader.
In his resignation letter, posted to social media, Reed said Starmer had shown loyalty to him and that he returned that faith in defending the former prime minister’s position.
Reed wrote: “Keir Starmer showed loyalty to me by appointing me to his cabinet. I make no apology for returning that loyalty. It’s what is expected of functioning teams, and I hope those who did not show loyalty to Keir will now show it to you.”
He added: “I’m proud I acted with integrity at every step over the turbulent past few months.”
The remarks will be read as a rebuke to colleagues who agitated against Starmer in the months before his resignation on 22 June, which followed Burnham’s return to the House of Commons in the Makerfield by-election.
Burnham was acclaimed Labour leader last week after securing the nominations of 379 Labour MPs and was appointed prime minister on Monday afternoon.
Reed also issued a warning in his statement, addressed to Burnham, regarding the new prime minister’s broader policy agenda.
He wrote: “You can’t make funding fairer for the rest of England by making it unfair on Londoners. I’m proud to be a London MP and I’ll always fight to ensure London is treated fairly as you explore new models of devolution, taxation and funding.”
He also urged Burnham not to “slow down implementation” of automatic voter registration if the new government reopens consultation on the policy and pressed him to take forward plans for a state housebuilder.
Reed concluded: “Labour governments do not come often, they face pressures and hostilities that their counterparts never do, but they are the single best vehicle we have for improving the lives of British working people.
“If they fail, it is not politicians who suffer, it is those who need us the most. I will do everything in my power to ensure you succeed.”
Reed was the first Starmer ally to announce that he would be leaving cabinet under the new regime. David Lammy, the deputy prime minister, and Rachel Reeves, the chancellor of the exchequer, have also left government.
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