Prime Minister Andy Burnham offered a lighthearted glimpse into the early years of his senior ministers by sharing childhood photographs of his new Cabinet on social media. The nostalgic post, published shortly after Burnham unveiled his team on Monday, showcased the ministers long before they assumed their current roles in government.

Burnham, 56, opened the retrospective with an image of himself dressed in cricket whites, arms folded and smiling, likely taken during his time as a fast bowler for the Lancashire schoolboys cricket team. The collection then featured Chancellor John Healey as a jovial child captured in a black-and-white photo from the 1960s. First Secretary of State Louise Haigh appeared in a childhood fancy dress outfit, while Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood was pictured smiling in a nightdress, seemingly a candid family snapshot before bedtime.

The transformation of Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband drew particular attention. His school photograph depicted a young Miliband with a nervous smile and distinctive buck teeth, underscoring the contrast between the childhood image and his current role.

The post generated positive reactions online, with some users appreciating Burnham’s informal approach to engaging the public and others dubbing him "the people's Andy." The playful gesture followed swiftly after Burnham, the former Mayor of Manchester, solidified his leadership by replacing several allies of his predecessor, Sir Keir Starmer, with his own selections at the head of government.