Chris Bryant has been appointed Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, following a major cabinet reshuffle by newly installed UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham. The MP for the south Wales constituency of Rhondda and Ogmore replaces Hilary Benn, who had served in the role since 2024. Bryant’s appointment is his first cabinet position, though he previously held shadow frontbench roles under Sir Keir Starmer and Jeremy Corbyn.
Andy Burnham Appoints Chris Bryant to Cabinet Following July 2026 Reshuffle
Cabinet Reshuffle Follows Leadership Change
The reshuffle occurred on Monday, July 20, 2026, as Andy Burnham took over from Keir Starmer as Prime Minister. Bryant, an Oxford-educated politician, met with the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, to finalize the appointment. Bryant’s background includes serving as an Anglican priest, specifically as a curate at the Church of All Saints, High Wycombe, from 1986 to 1989, and as Youth Chaplain to the Diocese of Peterborough from 1989 to 1991. He left the ministry, later working as an election agent for the Holborn and St Pancras Constituency Labour Party.
Before his election to Parliament in 2001, Bryant was the Head of European Affairs for the BBC from 1998 to 2001. His parliamentary career includes serving as Chair of the House of Commons Committees of Standards and Privileges from 2020 to 2023 and as a member of the Foreign Affairs Committee from 2017 to 2023. Most recently, Bryant served as Minister of State at the Department for Business and Trade, having also held roles as Minister of State at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
The reshuffle also saw former Labour leader Ed Miliband appointed as Foreign Secretary, while Louise Haigh, previously the shadow Northern Ireland secretary, was named Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
Hilary Benn Departs Northern Ireland Office After Navigating Legacy Act Reforms
Benn’s Departure and Legacy
Hilary Benn’s removal was regarded as a surprise in Northern Ireland, as he had only recently begun a programme of work
with the UK treasury and Northern political parties to address the funding crisis facing public services and the Stormont executive’s failure to agree on a multiyear budget. Benn, who remains the MP for Leeds South, announced his departure on X, stating: It has been a great privilege to serve as secretary of state for Northern Ireland and to work with the many wonderful people I have met over the last two years.
During his tenure, Benn was viewed as a skilled political operator who improved relations between the Irish and British governments. He oversaw the replacement of the UK’s Legacy Act with a new joint framework on dealing with the North’s past, agreed upon by Dublin and London in 2025. However, he faced criticism for seeking to change legislation to support British army veterans and for his decision not to grant a public inquiry into the murder of GAA official Seán Brown.
Reflecting on his departure, Benn said: I wish my successor all the very best in working with the [Northern] executive to protect stability, continuing to generate growth and investment and in taking forward the Troubles Bill which is so important for so many families.
He also pledged his full support from the backbenches
to the new prime minister.
Helen McEntee, Gavin Robinson, and Claire Hanna Address the Leadership Transition
Political Reaction and Future Challenges
Minister for Foreign Affairs Helen McEntee paid tribute to Benn, thanking him for his deep commitment
to Northern Ireland and Irish-British relations. He approached his role with purpose and understanding, and with a clear wish to make things better for all the people of Northern Ireland,
she said.
DUP leader Gavin Robinson noted that while there were significant disagreements on a number of important issues, particularly legacy, the Windsor Framework and the need for government to act more decisively in Northern Ireland’s interests,
those differences were always advanced robustly and respectfully.
Robinson added that Benn’s replacement must recognise the importance of working constructively with all parties while working to strengthen Northern Ireland’s place within the United Kingdom.
SDLP leader Claire Hanna stated that Bryant inherits a full and urgent agenda.
Regarding the transition, Hanna remarked: While we did not always agree, I found [Benn] to be thoughtful, engaged and willing to listen. That approach stood in marked contrast to some previous Secretaries of State.
She emphasized the urgency of the current situation, noting: “With a Budget crisis threatening public services and Assembly elections on the horizon, there is little time to lose. We will be pressing the new Secretary of State to ensure momentum is maintained on institutional reform, sustainable public finances and the long-term stability of Northern Ireland’s political institutions.”
Chris Bryant now faces the task of finishing the process Benn started: negotiating a multi-year budget to end the months-long stalemate between Stormont parties and the treasury.
Sources: The Irish Times, The Journal.
