Prime Minister Andy Burnham Expands Government Social Media Team

The Cabinet Office announced a recruitment drive for 13 new positions focused on short-form video and platform-native content. Salaries for the roles range from £37,922 for a social videographer to £80,342 for a head of social creative and production. Including civil-service pension contributions and employer national insurance, the annual taxpayer cost is estimated between £878,899 and £1,044,014. The posts sit within the Government Media Unit, a division of the Government Communication Service created in April 2026.

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Since joining TikTok in May, Prime Minister Andy Burnham has posted roughly 200 videos, generating 78.1 million views in his first 90 days—significantly higher than his predecessor Sir Keir Starmer’s 59.3 million views over a comparable period. Burnham’s TikTok follower count stands at about 569 000, while his Instagram audience has risen to 752 000, an increase of 145 554 in the last month according to Social Blade. By contrast, Starmer left Instagram with 852 000 followers accumulated over more than two years in office.

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A government spokesperson argued that the media environment has changed dramatically over the past decade, and that the state has a duty to meet citizens where they obtain information. The aim, according to the unit’s own job listings, is to “reach, connect and rebuild trust” through direct, platform-native content rather than traditional press-office channels.

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• Roles advertised: 13

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• Salary band: £37,922 – £80,342 per position

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• Total annual cost (incl. pension/NI): £878,899 – £1,044,014

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• TikTok posts: ~200; views: 78.1 million; followers: 569 000

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• Instagram followers: 752 000 (up 145 554 in 30 days); engagement rate: 3.1 %

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• Comparison to Starmer: 59.3 million TikTok views, 338 100 followers, 852 000 Instagram followers

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• “Today’s media landscape is unrecognisable compared to even a decade ago, and the way the public receives information and communicates has changed drastically in this time.” — Government spokesperson

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